Skip to main content

The Gallery will be open until 9pm this Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

Menu
What's on Prizes The Portraits Watch
The Gallery Governance & Board Circle of Friends
Learn Access Search the website
close close
What's on The Portraits The Gallery Learn Watch More O

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.

Chris Lilley, 2012

by John Tsiavis

National Photographic Portrait Prize 2013 Finalist

Chris Lilley, 2012

It is funny shooting comedians, they are often uneasy being themselves. A fearlessly unselfconscious performer like Chris Lilley finds his freedom in the characters he creates. A simple costume comes alive through Lilley’s animation and blurs the boundaries where the person ends and the character begins.

National Photographic Portrait Prize 2013
(More information, View all 53 photos)

Birds' nests
To Bare all
Becky feeding Hazel
Confronted

Other NPPP photos from John Tsiavis
(More information)

Polly Borland, 2015 by John Tsiavis
2016 Finalist
Creator versus character - Chris Lilley
2010 Finalist

Related information

Tan Le

'So many stars'

Portrait story

Tech entrepreneur Tan Le and photographer John Tsiavis.
Creator versus character - Chris Lilley
Creator versus character - Chris Lilley
Creator versus character - Chris Lilley
Creator versus character - Chris Lilley

How to be a boy

Magazine article by Dr Christopher Chapman, 2011

Christopher Chapman profiles Chris Lilley, actor and creator of Angry Boys.
Yhonnie and Indiana, 2012 by Janelle Low
Yhonnie and Indiana, 2012 by Janelle Low
Yhonnie and Indiana, 2012 by Janelle Low
Yhonnie and Indiana, 2012 by Janelle Low

National Photographic Portrait Prize 2013

Previous exhibition, 2013

The National Photographic Portrait Prize exhibition is selected from a national field of entries that reflect the distinctive vision of Australia's aspiring and professional portrait photographers and the unique nature of their subjects.
Home Contact Media Privacy statement User agreement Social media and community guidelines
© National Portrait Gallery 2025
King Edward Terrace, Parkes
Canberra, ACT 2600, Australia
Phone +61 2 6102 7000
ABN: 54 74 277 1196

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