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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.

Ella B Rowe (right view), 2021

Shea Kirk

National Photographic Portrait Prize 2022 Finalist

digital print on paper (frame: 137.7cm x 110.6cm depth 6.0cm)

Ella B Rowe, Papua New Guinean and Anglo/Australian descent. 'I had never truly seen a pregnant body until I saw my own. I've known personal transformations, but not like this one. When I look at parts of my growing motherhood, I see my mother, aunties, grandmothers, cousin sisters. I see a first home for my baby. I see sacrifice where doubt was never considered or had to be abandoned. I see my purpose explained. My sexual, intimate, private commitment to myself, presenting and healing me. A journey of transition, matrescence. Everything has changed and will never be the same again. I have surrendered to this great gift of life.'

Courtesy of the artist

Shea Kirk
Video: 1 minute 48 seconds

National Photographic Portrait Prize 2022

Other NPPP photos from Shea Kirk

Alfie Barker (right view), 2023 Shea Kirk
2024 Finalist
Ruby (left view), 2022 Shea Kirk
2023 Winner
Gemma Baxter (right view), 2019 Shea Kirk
2020 Art Handlers' Award
Callan Bradley Hales (left and right view), 2018 by Shea Kirk
2019 Finalist
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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.

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