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The National Portrait Gallery acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of Country throughout Australia and recognises the continuing connection to lands, waters and communities. We pay our respect to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures and to Elders both past and present.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander viewers are warned that this website contains images of deceased persons.

In the flesh

An exhibition of humanness in ten themes by Penelope Grist.

More information on In the flesh

Selected images

19 images
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The Long Awaited, 2008 by Patricia Piccinini
The Long Awaited, 2008 by Patricia Piccinini
Divide, 2011 by Sam Jinks
Divide, 2011 by Sam Jinks
Wild Man, 2005 by Ron Mueck
Wild Man, 2005 by Ron Mueck
Small Things, 2012 by Sam Jinks
Small Things, 2012 by Sam Jinks
Unsettled dogs, 2012 by Sam Jinks
Unsettled dogs, 2012 by Sam Jinks
Pregnant woman, 2002 by Ron Mueck
Pregnant woman, 2002 by Ron Mueck
Husk # 5, 2006 by Juan Ford
Husk # 5, 2006 by Juan Ford
The Reorientalist, 2013 by Juan Ford
The Reorientalist, 2013 by Juan Ford
Walking in Tall Grass, Betty, 2010 by Jan Nelson
Walking in Tall Grass, Betty, 2010 by Jan Nelson
Walking in Tall Grass, Lauren, 2007 by Jan Nelson
Walking in Tall Grass, Lauren, 2007 by Jan Nelson
Walking in Tall Grass, Marion 2, 2011 by Jan Nelson
Walking in Tall Grass, Marion 2, 2011 by Jan Nelson
Walking in tall grass, Lucy, 2010 by Jan Nelson
Walking in tall grass, Lucy, 2010 by Jan Nelson
Adams Apple, 2013 by Petrina Hicks
Adams Apple, 2013 by Petrina Hicks
Re-Birth, 2013 by Petrina Hicks
Re-Birth, 2013 by Petrina Hicks
Look Closer, 2013 by Yanni Floros
Look Closer, 2013 by Yanni Floros
Black Swan, 2013 by Yanni Floros
Black Swan, 2013 by Yanni Floros
Indigo, 2012 by Natasha Bieniek
Indigo, 2012 by Natasha Bieniek
Rose, 2011 by Natasha Bieniek
Rose, 2011 by Natasha Bieniek
Peony, 2014 by Natasha Bieniek
Peony, 2014 by Natasha Bieniek
19 images
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Related information

Divide, 2011 by Sam Jinks
Divide, 2011 by Sam Jinks
Divide, 2011 by Sam Jinks
Divide, 2011 by Sam Jinks

In the flesh

Previous exhibition, 2014

In the flesh is an enthralling and immersive experience of contemporary art that confronts the concept of humanness and the experiences of consciousness and emotion. Featuring ten Australian artists including Jan Nelson, Patricia Piccinini, Ron Mueck and Michael Peck, the exhibition explores themes of intimacy, empathy, transience, transition, vulnerability, alienation, restlessness, reflection, mortality and acceptance.
Divide (Self portrait)
Divide (Self portrait)
Divide (Self portrait)
Divide (Self portrait)

Dissections

Layered portraits from the collection

Previous exhibition, 2016

This display sets two impressive portraits from the collection into direct dialogue: Sam Jinks’ sculptural self portrait and Nick Mourtzakis’ painted portrait of David Chalmers, along with related maquette and sketches.Together they explore physical and psychological manifestations of the strata of self-hood.
The National Portrait Gallery building front entrance
The National Portrait Gallery building front entrance
The National Portrait Gallery building front entrance
The National Portrait Gallery building front entrance

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