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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.

The Gallery’s Acknowledgement of Country, and information on culturally sensitive and restricted content and the use of historic language in the collection can be found here.

Kylie Minogue

1999
Polly Borland

type C photograph on paper (sheet: 55.7 cm x 45.5 cm, image: 49.4 cm x 39.3 cm)
Image not available (NC)

Kylie Minogue AO OBE (b. 1968), the 'Princess of Pop', is Australia’s most successful female recording artist of all time and the first woman to have a UK number one album across five consecutive decades. Minogue rose to local and international fame playing Charlene in the television soap Neighbours in the 1980s. Her singing career began with a cover of the 1960s song 'The Loco-Motion' in 1987 and she made history by achieving more than 20 consecutive top ten hits in the UK. With an instinct for re-invention, she has been involved in unexpected collaborations, such as with Nick Cave on 'Where the Wild Roses Grow' (1995). In 2002 Minogue won four ARIA awards for the album Fever (2001) containing her aptly-named biggest hit, 'Can’t Get You Out of My Head'. Diagnosed with breast cancer in 2005, she became a prominent survivor, her ordeal inspiring hope in many women. Since her recovery, Minogue has continued a regular schedule of releasing music and touring, with highlights including performing at Queen Elizabeth II's Diamond Jubilee Concert in 2012 and appearing in the Legends Slot at the 2019 Glastonbury Festival. Her fifteenth studio album, Disco (2020), reached number one in Australia and the UK.

In this timeless image, photographer Polly Borland captured Minogue gazing out from a pool of pink satin.

Purchased 2000

The National Portrait Gallery respects the artistic and intellectual property rights of others. Works of art from the collection are reproduced as per the Australian Copyright Act 1968 (Cth). The use of images of works from the collection may be restricted under the Act. Requests for a reproduction of a work of art can be made through a Reproduction request. For further information please contact NPG Copyright.

Artist and subject

Polly Borland (age 40 in 1999)

Kylie Minogue AO OBE (age 31 in 1999)

Subject professions

Performing arts

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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.

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