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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.

Mullet magic, 2021

Leith Alexander

Living Memory Finalist

Mullet magic, 2021

Covid made us look to our backyards for culture, but still, nobody noticed shearers. They're part of a niche subculture specific to the country, so you don't 'see it' unless you're 'in it'. They're the iconic 'working-class heroes' that mullet-wearing city dwellers aspire to be. They're so fashion-forward, they never stopped wearing mullets; had stick 'n poke tatts before hipsters did; and live the bohemian lifestyle Byron Bay-ites want. Shearers haven't stopped during Covid, so on top of being aesthetically perfect, they also continue to support the nation. Consider this photo a form of cultural exchange from country to city.

Courtesy of the artist
© The artist

Leith Alexander video: 20 minutes
Leith Alexander video: 20 minutes
Leith Alexander video: 20 minutes
Leith Alexander video: 20 minutes

Leith Alexander

An interview with Leith Alexander, Finalist in the Living Memory National Photographic Portrait Prize.

Living Memory
(More information, View all 79 photos)

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Artists in residence – Carlos, Jono and Lazy Susan
Evie and Ruby at The Bend, Dec. 2019
Cross-cultural wedding

Related information

Leith Alexander video: 20 minutes
Leith Alexander video: 20 minutes
Leith Alexander video: 20 minutes
Leith Alexander video: 20 minutes

Leith Alexander

Finalist interviews

An interview with Leith Alexander, Finalist in the Living Memory National Photographic Portrait Prize.
Drought story, 2020 Joel B. Pratley
Drought story, 2020 Joel B. Pratley
Drought story, 2020 Joel B. Pratley
Drought story, 2020 Joel B. Pratley

Living Memory

National Photographic Portrait Prize 2021

Previous exhibition, 2021

The 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.
The National Portrait Gallery building front entrance
The National Portrait Gallery building front entrance
The National Portrait Gallery building front entrance
The National Portrait Gallery building front entrance

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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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