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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.

Penelope Grist

Dave Tacon

Tacon Portraits

In conversation

On demand

Join Shanghai-based Australian photographer Dave Tacon in conversation with Exhibitions Curator, Penny Grist.
John Tsiavis and Penny Grist video: 44 minutes

MEL to LAX

In Conversation

On demand

Join us in first class as Exhibitions Curator, Penny Grist catches up with photographer John Tsiavis to reflect on his career and how his creative practice has changed during the global pandemic.
Birds-eye view

Birds-eye view

In Conversation

On demand

Jump in the nest and join the brood as we celebrate National Bird Week! We’ll take a birds-eye view of the collection, and explore faces of folks with their feathered friends. BYO binoculars.
Down the rabbit hole

Down the rabbit hole

In Conversation

On demand

Come on a journey behind the scenes, into the woods and reaching for the stars with Penny Grist Curator, Exhibitions.

You choose the story!

In conversation

On demand

In the very strange land where portraiture meets Choose Your Own Adventure meets Six Degrees of Separation meets Australian Idol, there you will find our Curator, Exhibitions; Penny Grist.

NPG London, Scotland and Australia

15 Minutes of Frame

On demand

Delve into the lives, loves and labour of the world’s most prominent portrait galleries in this international conversation series.
The mahi-mahi, 2019 Rob Palmer
The mahi-mahi, 2019 Rob Palmer
The mahi-mahi, 2019 Rob Palmer
The mahi-mahi, 2019 Rob Palmer

National Photographic Portrait Prize 2020

Previous exhibition, 2020
Eugene Lane
Eugene Lane
Eugene Lane
Eugene Lane

Starstruck: On Location

Australian Movie Portraits

Touring exhibition, 2019

Show all 7 exhibitions curated
Cathy Freeman, 1998 Julian Kingma
Cathy Freeman, 1998 Julian Kingma
Cathy Freeman, 1998 Julian Kingma
Cathy Freeman, 1998 Julian Kingma

In profile

Julian Kingma

Magazine article by Penelope Grist, 2023

Penelope Grist explores the photographic instinct of four-time National Photographic Portrait Prize finalist Julian Kingma.
The Wedding, 2022 Atong Atem
The Wedding, 2022 Atong Atem
The Wedding, 2022 Atong Atem
The Wedding, 2022 Atong Atem

See through me

Magazine article by Penelope Grist and Rebecca Ray, 2022

Penelope Grist and Rebecca Ray talk to the artists in Portrait23: Identity about transcending modes of portraiture.

Show all 18 Portrait magazine articles
Installation of ‘Face to Face: The New Normal’ at Wagga Wagga Regional Gallery, 2021 Vic McEwan
Installation of ‘Face to Face: The New Normal’ at Wagga Wagga Regional Gallery, 2021 Vic McEwan
Installation of ‘Face to Face: The New Normal’ at Wagga Wagga Regional Gallery, 2021 Vic McEwan
Installation of ‘Face to Face: The New Normal’ at Wagga Wagga Regional Gallery, 2021 Vic McEwan

Facing the feeling

About Face article

Penelope Grist explores the interplay between medicine and portraiture in Vic McEwan’s Face to Face: The New Normal.
Surfing, Noosa, 1970s Stuart Spence
Surfing, Noosa, 1970s Stuart Spence
Surfing, Noosa, 1970s Stuart Spence
Surfing, Noosa, 1970s Stuart Spence

The play’s the thing

About Face article

Penelope Grist charts an immersive path through Stuart Spence’s photography.

Show all 4 About Face articles
Summary
7 exhibitions curated
18 magazine articles online
4 About Face articless online
Related People
Dr Christopher Chapman
Angus Trumble
portrait.gov.au
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