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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.

Olga and her blanket, 2015

by Katherine Griffiths

National Photographic Portrait Prize 2016 Finalist

Olga and her blanket, 2015

Olga Horak OAM is a survivor, in every sense of the word. Despite living through the Holocaust, she is the epitome of elegance and style. Photographed in one of the many dresses she has designed and made for herself, Olga maintains that age is no excuse to stop looking your best. Here she holds a blanket that was woven using the hair of Jewish prisoners who had their heads shaven as they entered Auschwitz. The blanket covered Olga’s skeletal frame on the day of liberation. The contrast between the two garments and the two lives is a striking one.

National Photographic Portrait Prize 2016
(More information, View all 49 photos)

Kurt Coleman - Literally Me
Shaun
Meika IV
EVA

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Life Dancers, 2015 by Elizabeth Looker
Life Dancers, 2015 by Elizabeth Looker
Life Dancers, 2015 by Elizabeth Looker
Life Dancers, 2015 by Elizabeth Looker

National Photographic Portrait Prize 2016

Previous exhibition, 2016

The National Photographic Portrait Prize exhibition is selected from a national field of entries, reflecting the distinctive vision of Australia's aspiring and professional portrait photographers and the unique nature of their subjects.
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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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