© National Portrait Gallery 2025
King Edward Terrace, Parkes
Canberra, ACT 2600, Australia
Phone +61 2 6102 7000
ABN: 54 74 277 1196
National Photographic Portrait Prize 2024 Finalist
Angela Tiatia
born Aotearoa/New Zealand 1973, Australia from 2012
The Dark Current 2023
pigment photographic print on paper
‘This work is an homage to my mother, Lusi Tiatia, who passed away in early 2023. It is a testament to the sacrifices and struggles that her generation endured when they migrated to the cities of Australia and Aotearoa from the villages of the Pacific Islands in the 1960s. I had a very clear idea of the presence of the person I was looking for to embody my mother in this image. After months of searching with no luck, finally a friend messaged me Cassaerea’s Instagram profile. She was perfect: strong, calm, resolute, captivating.’
Based on Gadigal Land in Sydney, artist
Angela Tiatia explores contemporary culture, drawing
attention to relationships between representation, gender,
neo-colonialism, the commodification of body, history and place.
The National Photographic Portrait Prize 2024 celebrates established and emerging artistic talent from across the country.
Visit us, learn with us, support us or work with us! Here’s a range of information about planning your visit, our history and more!
We depend on your support to keep creating our programs, exhibitions, publications and building the amazing portrait collection!
