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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.

James Mollison

c. 1973 (printed 2004)
Wesley Stacey

type C photograph on paper (sheet: 42.8 cm x 30.5 cm, image: 29.6 cm x 29.6 cm)

James Mollison AO (1931–2020) was the inaugural director of the National Gallery of Australia. Born in Wonthaggi, Victoria, Mollison gained his sole formal tertiary qualification from the Secondary Teachers College in Melbourne and commenced his career as education officer at the National Gallery of Victoria in the early 1960s. Following two years as director of the Ballarat Fine Art Gallery (now the Art Gallery of Ballarat), in 1969 he was appointed to the Commonwealth Art Advisory Board, then part of the Prime Minister's Department, with instructions to put together a definitive collection of Australian art for a gallery that was scheduled to open in 1976. In 1971 he became Acting Director of what was then called the Australian National Gallery; six years later his appointment as the institution's first director was confirmed. Mollison is widely credited for instituting the bold, astute and thoughtful collection policy by which the Gallery acquired works such as Jackson Pollock's Blue Poles – purchased, controversially, for $1.3 million in 1974 – and Sidney Nolan's iconic Ned Kelly series. On his retirement from the Gallery in 1989 Mollison said 'we set out to show Australians firstly their own art, in great depth, against the art of the rest of the world. We deliberately worked to the highest possible standards.' From 1989 to 1995 he was Director of the National Gallery of Victoria. His several publications included a number of books on the prints and paintings of Fred Williams.

Gift of James Mollison AO 2004
© Wesley Stacey

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

Wesley Stacey (age 32 in 1973)

James Mollison AO (age 42 in 1973)

Subject professions

Visual arts and crafts

Donated by

James Mollison AO (3 portraits)

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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