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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.

Electric!

Portraits that pop!

Celebrate the Gallery’s 20th birthday summer with Electric! Portraits that pop! The collection exhibition features a mix of bright, bold and colourful paintings, prints and photographs, and buoyant video portraits.

More information on Electric!

Selected images

Creatures of Leisure series (David 'Bird' Twohill)

Creatures of Leisure series (David 'Bird' Twohill), 1982 Paul Worstead. © Paul Worstead

Sir Robert May AC KT

Sir Robert May AC KT, 1999 Polly Borland. © Polly Borland

Christine Manfield

Christine Manfield, 1997 Selina Snow. © Selina Snow

Acacius (Stigmata) - Tony Carden

Acacius (Stigmata) - Tony Carden, 1991 AñA Wojak. © AñA Wojak

Nicole Kidman

Nicole Kidman, c. 1980 Lewis Morley. © Lewis Morley Archive LLC

Natalie Imbruglia

Natalie Imbruglia, 1999 Polly Borland. © Polly Borland

Roslyn

Roslyn, 2016 Sally Ross. © Sally Ross

Me, 1992 Ken Done. © Ken Done

HM Queen Elizabeth II

HM Queen Elizabeth II, 2001 Polly Borland. © Polly Borland. Reproduced courtesy of Polly Borland and Anna Schwartz Gallery.

Neil Armfield

Neil Armfield, 2010 Adam Cullen. © Adam Cullen/Copyright Agency, 2022

Glenn Murcutt

Glenn Murcutt, 1992 Ken Done. © Ken Done

Marcia Hines

Marcia Hines, c. 1981 Lewis Morley. © Lewis Morley Archive LLC

Ian Roberts (after Coypel 1709)

Ian Roberts (after Coypel 1709), 2003 Ross Watson. © Ross Watson

George Tjungurrayi

George Tjungurrayi, 2002 Matthÿs Gerber. © Matthÿs Gerber

Reg Richardson AM

Reg Richardson AM, 2014 Mitch Cairns. © Mitch Cairns

Matt Moran

Matt Moran, 2004 Murray Fredericks, Lisa Giles. © Murray Fredericks and Lisa Giles

Henry

Henry "Seaman" Dan, 2009 Nathan Kelly. © Nathan Kelly

Creatures of Leisure series (Greedy Smith)

Creatures of Leisure series (Greedy Smith), 1982 Paul Worstead. © Paul Worstead

Creatures of Leisure series (Martin Plaza)

Creatures of Leisure series (Martin Plaza), 1982 Paul Worstead. © Paul Worstead

Creatures of Leisure series (Peter O'Doherty)

Creatures of Leisure series (Peter O'Doherty), 1982 Paul Worstead. © Paul Worstead

Creatures of Leisure series (Reg Mombassa)

Creatures of Leisure series (Reg Mombassa), 1982 Paul Worstead. © Paul Worstead

Professor Germaine Greer

Professor Germaine Greer, 1999 Polly Borland. © Polly Borland

Adam Scott: at Sanctuary Cove Golf Course

Adam Scott: at Sanctuary Cove Golf Course, 2006 Robin Sellick. © Robin Sellick

The golden girls: Jodie Henry, Lisbeth 'Libby' Trickett (née Lenton), Giaan Rooney, Alice Mills, Brooke Hanson, Leisel Jones

The golden girls: Jodie Henry, Lisbeth 'Libby' Trickett (née Lenton), Giaan Rooney, Alice Mills, Brooke Hanson, Leisel Jones, 2004 Robin Sellick. © Robin Sellick

Lleyton Hewitt

Lleyton Hewitt, 1998 Robin Sellick. © Robin Sellick

Shane Warne

Shane Warne, 2006 Robin Sellick. © Robin Sellick

Leigh Bowery

Leigh Bowery, 1984 Robyn Beeche. © Robyn Beeche Foundation

Untitled #21/09 (after Ricci, 1700; featuring Matthew Mitcham)

Untitled #21/09 (after Ricci, 1700; featuring Matthew Mitcham), 2009 Ross Watson. © Ross Watson

Barry McDonald

Barry McDonald, 1997 Selina Snow. © Selina Snow

Neil Perry

Neil Perry, 1997 Selina Snow. © Selina Snow

Stefano Manfredi

Stefano Manfredi, 1997 Selina Snow. © Selina Snow

The Movie Star (David Gulpilil)

The Movie Star (David Gulpilil), 1985 Tracey Moffatt AO. © Tracey Moffatt
Courtesy of the artist and Roslyn Oxley9 Gallery, Sydney.

Cathryn Fitzpatrick

Cathryn Fitzpatrick, 2006 Toni Wilkinson. © Toni Wilkinson

Anneliese Seubert

Anneliese Seubert, 1997 (printed 2014) Ingvar Kenne. © Ingvar Kenne

Miranda Otto

Miranda Otto, 1997 Montalbetti + Campbell. © Montalbetti & Campbell

Untitled #88 (Captain Brad Kilpatrick and Kylie Minogue, Balibo, East Timor, 20 December 1999)

Untitled #88 (Captain Brad Kilpatrick and Kylie Minogue, Balibo, East Timor, 20 December 1999) Matthew Sleeth. © Matthew Sleeth

Bruce Petty

Bruce Petty, 2008 Bruce Petty. © Commonwealth of Australia

Johnny Warren OAM MBE

Johnny Warren OAM MBE, 2008 Natasha Gadd and Rhys Graham

Paul Kelly

Paul Kelly, 2013 Warwick Thornton. © Warwick Thornton

Layne Beachley

Layne Beachley, 2008 Petrina Hicks. © Commonwealth of Australia

Related information

Miles and Arkie, 2015 by Clint Peloso

Miles and Arkie, 2015 by Clint Peloso

Miles and Arkie, 2015 by Clint Peloso

Shop Talk

Magazine article by Stephen Phillips, 2016

Angus and the arbiters talk (photo) shop for the National Photographic Portrait Prize.

Layne Beachley

Layne Beachley

Layne Beachley

Collection: Icons

Volume One

Previous exhibition, 2018

When a portrait communicates determination and individuality as boldly as these do, it has the potential to become an iconic image. For the Gallery’s 20th birthday this display brings together a group contemporary photographic portraits of inspiring women and men.

Maryan, 2010 by Rod McNicol

Maryan, 2010 by Rod McNicol

Maryan, 2010 by Rod McNicol

Life and time

Portraits by Rod McNicol

Previous exhibition, 2015

Australian photographer Rod McNicol has consistently analysed the passing of time through the evidence of the photographic portrait. At once confronting and tender, McNicol’s portrait photographs are bold and intimate.

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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 past and present. We respectfully advise that this site includes works by, images of, names of, voices of and references to deceased people.

This website comprises and contains copyrighted materials and works. Copyright in all materials and/or works comprising or contained within this website remains with the National Portrait Gallery and other copyright owners as specified.

The National Portrait Gallery respects the artistic and intellectual property rights of others. The use of images of works of art reproduced on this website and all other content may be restricted under the Australian Copyright Act 1968 (Cth). Requests for a reproduction of a work of art or other content can be made through a Reproduction request. For further information please contact NPG Copyright.

The National Portrait Gallery is an Australian Government Agency