Skip to main content

Temporary road closures will be in place around the Gallery until 11 March during the Enlighten Festival.

Menu
What's on Prizes The Portraits Watch
The Gallery Governance & Board Circle of Friends
Learn Access Search the website
close close
What's on The Portraits The Gallery Learn Watch More O

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.

John Levi at Puckapunyal

1953
Barry Humphries

pastel and gouache on paper (sheet (irregular): 30.3 cm x 24.7 cm)
John Levi at Puckapunyal

Collection: National Portrait Gallery
Gift of Rabbi John Levi AC 2003
Donated through the Australian Government's Cultural Gifts Program
© Barry Humphries

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.
2003.89
Currently not on display
Let me know when this portrait’s on display
Request a digital copy for publication

Artist and subject

Barry Humphries (age 19 in 1953)

John Levi AM

Subject professions

Religion

Donated by

John Levi AM (1 portrait)

Related portraits
(View all 11)

Study for
Barry Humphries
The Mask of Barry Humphries
Barry Humphries
1. Study for "Barry Humphries in the character of Mrs Everage", 1969 John Brack. © Helen Brack. 2. Barry Humphries, 1971 (printed 2010) Bill McAuley. © Bill McAuley. 3. The Mask of Barry Humphries, c. 1972 Sir William Dargie CBE. © Roger Dargie and Faye Dargie. 4. Barry Humphries, 1962 Lewis Morley. © Lewis Morley Archive LLC.

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.
Barry Humphries
Barry Humphries
Barry Humphries
Barry Humphries

No Laughing Matter

Magazine article by Simon Elliott, 2002

The biographical exhibition of Barry Humphries was the first display of its kind at the National Portrait Gallery.
Slim Dusty and Dame Edna Everage, Carlton Hill Station, WA, 10 July 1993
Slim Dusty and Dame Edna Everage, Carlton Hill Station, WA, 10 July 1993
Slim Dusty and Dame Edna Everage, Carlton Hill Station, WA, 10 July 1993
Slim Dusty and Dame Edna Everage, Carlton Hill Station, WA, 10 July 1993

Rarely Everage

The Lives of Barry Humphries

Previous exhibition, 2002

The exhibition begins with Barry's childhood in Camberwell, Melbourne and chronicles his days as a struggling actor in Australia and England, his creation of characters including Barry McKenzie, Dame Edna Everage, Sandy Stone and Sir Les Patterson
Home Contact Media Privacy statement User agreement Social media and community guidelines
© National Portrait Gallery 2025
King Edward Terrace, Parkes
Canberra, ACT 2600, Australia
Phone +61 2 6102 7000
ABN: 54 74 277 1196

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