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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.

Untitled (Study for 'Emily Kame Kngwarreye with Lily')

1993
Jenny Sages

charcoal on paper (sheet: 30.4 cm x 22.8 cm)
Untitled (Study for 'Emily Kame Kngwarreye with Lily')

Jenny Sages made these drawings as she sat with Emily Kngwarreye and her friend Lily under their 'talking tree'. Emily thought Jenny was as old as she was, and Sages recalls that they sat and talked 'as two 83-year-olds do'. The fifteen works in the series, recording the changing expressions on the Anmatyerre woman's face and her shifts between lively and impassive postures, work together like the storyboard of a film of Emily Kngwarreye.

Gift of the artist 2002. Donated through the Australian Government's Cultural Gifts Program.
© Jenny Sages

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.
2002.23.12
Currently not on display
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Artist and subject

Jenny Sages (age 60 in 1993)

Emily Kame Kngwarreye (age 83 in 1993)

Subject professions

Visual arts and crafts

Donated by

Jenny Sages (27 portraits)

Related portraits
(View all 36)

Untitled (Study for 'Emily Kame Kngwarreye with Lily')
Untitled (Study for 'Emily Kame Kngwarreye with Lily')
Untitled (Study for 'Emily Kame Kngwarreye with Lily')
Untitled (Study for 'Emily Kame Kngwarreye with Lily')
1. Untitled (Study for 'Emily Kame Kngwarreye with Lily'), 1993. 2. Untitled (Study for 'Emily Kame Kngwarreye with Lily'), 1993. 3. Untitled (Study for 'Emily Kame Kngwarreye with Lily'), 1993. 4. Untitled (Study for 'Emily Kame Kngwarreye with Lily'), 1993. All Jenny Sages.

Related information

The companion
The companion
The companion
The companion

The Companion

Permanent collection catalogue

Publications

On one level The Companion talks about the most famous and frontline Australians, but on another it tells us about ourselves.

Kate Grenville

'Making Stories'

Portrait story

Australian writer Kate Grenville discusses her career and portrait by Jenny Sages.
Each morning when I wake up I put on my mothers face, 2000
Each morning when I wake up I put on my mothers face, 2000
Each morning when I wake up I put on my mothers face, 2000
Each morning when I wake up I put on my mothers face, 2000

Paths to portraiture

Magazine article by Dr Sarah Engledow, 2010

The life and art of Australian artist Jenny Sages is on display in the exhibition Paths to Portraiture.
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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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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.

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