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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.

Reg Mombassa aka Chris O'Doherty

1995
Greg Weight

gelatin silver photograph on paper (sheet: 40.4 cm x 50.4 cm, image: 30.8 cm x 45.3 cm)

Chris O'Doherty, sometimes known as Reg Mombassa, is an artist and musician. The O'Doherty family came from New Zealand to Sydney in 1969, when Chris commenced study at the National Art School. In 1976 he became a founding member of Mental as Anything, one of Australia?s most successful pop bands. All the band's original members are visual artists including O'Doherty's brother Peter, with whom he formed the band Dog Trumpet in 1991. From 1976 Chris O'Doherty designed prints for the surfwear label Mambo, devising the flatulent dog, demons and incarnations of 'Australian Jesus' in distinctively Australian settings that also recurred for many years in his paintings. His work Bush Suburbs was printed on the lining of the Australian team blazer for the Sydney 2000 Olympics, and several of his creations featured in the closing ceremony of the games. Over the past two decades, he has participated in many group shows and held many solo exhibitions at Watters Gallery, Sydney, becoming well-known for his evocative landscapes and views of workaday dwellings.

Gift of Patrick Corrigan AM 2004. Donated through the Australian Government's Cultural Gifts Program.
© Gregory Weight/Copyright Agency, 2024

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

Greg Weight (age 49 in 1995)

Chris O'Doherty (age 44 in 1995)

Donated by

Patrick Corrigan AM (130 portraits)

© National Portrait Gallery 2024
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Canberra, ACT 2600, Australia

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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