Search / jenny mackay

Donald Gordon Mackay, 1998

Gift of Jenny Mackay in memory of Don Mackay 2015. Donated through the Australian Government's Cultural Gifts Program.

Richard Morecroft & Alison Mackay, 2016

Collection: National Portrait Gallery
Gift of the artist 2018

Single parent Robert Smith-Goode, housing commission flats, 2009

After Jack, 2012

Purchased 2018

Jackie and Kerryn

Observation point

Australian artist and Archibald Prize winner, Jenny Sages reflects on her work.

Their brilliant careers

Jenny Gall delves into Starstruck to celebrate some of Australian cinema’s iconic women.

Vegan in a leather coat (self portrait)

Aussie Icon: Portrait of Jenny Kee, 2022

Purchased 2022

Jenny Sages - artist, 2012

Jenny Watson 4, February 1979, 1979 (printed 2012)

Purchased 2012

Jenny Sages, 1995

Gift of Patrick Corrigan AM 2004. Donated through the Australian Government's Cultural Gifts Program.

Jenny Howard, c. 1930s

Purchased 2017

Kate (Kate Grenville), 2012

Gift of the artist 2014. Donated through the Australian Government's Cultural Gifts Program.

Study for portrait of Helen Garner, 2003

Collection: National Portrait Gallery
Gift of the artist 2007

Study for portrait of Helen Garner, 2003

Collection: National Portrait Gallery
Gift of the artist 2005

Study of male ballet dancers standing in a line, 2007

Collection: National Portrait Gallery
Gift of J Sages Family Trust 2009
Donated through the Australian Government's Cultural Gifts Program

Study (a) for portrait of Helen Garner, 2003

Collection: National Portrait Gallery
Gift of J Sages Family Trust 2009
Donated through the Australian Government's Cultural Gifts Program

Study (d) for portrait of Helen Garner, 2003

Collection: National Portrait Gallery
Gift of J Sages Family Trust 2009
Donated through the Australian Government's Cultural Gifts Program

Study (c) for portrait of Helen Garner, 2003

Collection: National Portrait Gallery
Gift of J Sages Family Trust 2009
Donated through the Australian Government's Cultural Gifts Program

Study (b) for portrait of Helen Garner, 2003

Collection: National Portrait Gallery
Gift of J Sages Family Trust 2009
Donated through the Australian Government's Cultural Gifts Program

Study of a pair of ballet dancers, 2007

Collection: National Portrait Gallery
Gift of J Sages Family Trust 2009
Donated through the Australian Government's Cultural Gifts Program

Study of female ballet dancers, 2007

Collection: National Portrait Gallery
Gift of J Sages Family Trust 2009
Donated through the Australian Government's Cultural Gifts Program

True Stories - Helen Garner, 2003

Gift of the artist 2004. Donated through the Australian Government's Cultural Gifts Program.

Irina Baronova (handing on the baton), 2007

Gift of the J Sages Family Trust 2009. Donated through the Australian Government's Cultural Gifts Program.

Elizabeth Reid, 1989

Gift of Elizabeth Reid 2019

Paths to portraiture

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

An Afternoon (Aunty Jenny Munro at the Redfern Aboriginal Tent Embassy), 2015

Purchased 2022

Untitled (Study for 'Emily Kame Kngwarreye with Lily'), 1993

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

Untitled (Study for 'Emily Kame Kngwarreye with Lily'), 1993

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

Untitled (Study for 'Emily Kame Kngwarreye with Lily'), 1993

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

Untitled (Study for 'Emily Kame Kngwarreye with Lily'), 1993

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

Untitled (Study for 'Emily Kame Kngwarreye with Lily'), 1993

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

Untitled (Study for 'Emily Kame Kngwarreye with Lily'), 1993

Collection: National Portrait Gallery
Gift of the artist 2002
Donated through the Australian Government's Cultural Gifts Program

Untitled (Study for 'Emily Kame Kngwarreye with Lily'), 1993

Collection: National Portrait Gallery
Gift of the artist 2002
Donated through the Australian Government's Cultural Gifts Program

Untitled (Study for 'Emily Kame Kngwarreye with Lily'), 1993

Collection: National Portrait Gallery
Gift of the artist 2002
Donated through the Australian Government's Cultural Gifts Program

Untitled (Study for 'Emily Kame Kngwarreye with Lily'), 1993

Collection: National Portrait Gallery
Gift of the artist 2002
Donated through the Australian Government's Cultural Gifts Program

Untitled (Study for 'Emily Kame Kngwarreye with Lily'), 1993

Collection: National Portrait Gallery
Gift of the artist 2002
Donated through the Australian Government's Cultural Gifts Program

Untitled (Study for 'Emily Kame Kngwarreye with Lily'), 1993

Collection: National Portrait Gallery
Gift of the artist 2002
Donated through the Australian Government's Cultural Gifts Program

Untitled (Study for 'Emily Kame Kngwarreye with Lily'), 1993

Collection: National Portrait Gallery
Gift of the artist 2002
Donated through the Australian Government's Cultural Gifts Program

Untitled (Study for 'Emily Kame Kngwarreye with Lily'), 1993

Collection: National Portrait Gallery
Gift of the artist 2002
Donated through the Australian Government's Cultural Gifts Program

Untitled (Study for 'Emily Kame Kngwarreye with Lily'), 1993

Collection: National Portrait Gallery
Gift of the artist 2002
Donated through the Australian Government's Cultural Gifts Program

Untitled (Study for 'Emily Kame Kngwarreye with Lily'), 1993

Collection: National Portrait Gallery
Gift of the artist 2002
Donated through the Australian Government's Cultural Gifts Program

Emily Kame Kngwarreye, 1995

Collection: National Portrait Gallery
Gift of Dr. Morris Low 2000

Kate Grenville

Australian writer Kate Grenville discusses her career and portrait by Jenny Sages.

Emily Kame Kngwarreye, 1995

Collection: National Portrait Gallery
Bequest of Alan Boxer 2014

Emily Kame Kngwarreye with Lily, 1993

Purchased 1998

Grant (No. 3 of Robert, Lindy, Grant)

Robert (No. 1 of Robert, Lindy, Grant)

Lindy (No. 2 of Robert, Lindy, Grant)

Nancy Borlase and Laurie Short, 1991

Gift of the Margaret Olley Art Trust 1998

True Stories

The story behind the creation of the portrait of Helen Garner by Jenny Sages.

Handing on the baton

Michael Desmond explores the life of ballerina Irina Baranova through the portrait by Australian artist Jenny Sages.

Jenny Sages

The exhibition Sages examines the process of portrait making through four large-scale portraits of women by Jenny Sages, paired with intimate preparatory drawings.

Robert, Lindy, Grant, 1981

Purchased 2002

Gene Sherman with Family, After Tillers, After Freud, After Watteau, 1995

Gift of Dr Gene Sherman AM in memory of Brian Sherman AM (1943-2022). Donated through the Australian Government's Cultural Gifts Program 2023.

A deep, abiding love affair

Frames for his life’s love

Barry & Alkirra – The House in Carrington, 2014

Jenny Kee

Jenny Sages

A companion to our 2012-13 Paths to Portraiture travelling exhibition, which provides suggestions for teachers to use before, during and after their Gallery visit. For Secondary students.

Dylan Mooney

Dylan Mooney, a proud Yuwi man from Mackay, Queensland, based in Meanjin/Brisbane, works across painting, printmaking, digital illustration and drawing, visually translating stories of resilience, survival, connection and love.

Lindy Morrison

Musician Lindy Morrison on starting out as a drummer, and Jenny Watson's portraits of The Go-Betweens.

Alan Marshall, 1971

Collection: National Portrait Gallery
Gift of Barrie and Jenny Hadlow 2015

Portrait 37

This issue features Jenny Sages, Francis Bacon and Lucian Freud, Brook Andrew's portrait of Marcia Langton, Nicholas Harding, Lola Montez, Mick Molloy and more.

Portrait Gallery benefits from generous Boxer bequest

Canberran and modernist art collector Alan Boxer has generously bequeathed two works by artists Arthur Boyd and Jenny Sages to the National Portrait Gallery.

Time and Line

Encompassing the 1820s to the 2020s, Time and Line showcases the depth and extent of our drawing collection.

Polly Borland on Germaine Greer

Recorded 2017

Yukultji and Yalti with their family, 2019

National Photographic Portrait Prize 2017

The exhibition is selected from a national field of entries, reflecting the distinctive vision of Australia's aspiring and professional portrait photographers and the unique nature of their subjects.

Portrait 65

Hugh Ramsay, the fashion of Jenny Kee and Linda Jackson, Peter Wegner's centenarian series, John and Elizabeth Gould's family connections, Karen Quinlan's top five portraits and more.

Gary Grealy wins National Photographic Portrait Prize 2017

After months of anticipation, the winner for the National Photographic Portrait Prize 2017 has been announced with renowned Sydney portrait photographer Gary Grealy taking out the award. George Fetting, guest judge for the 2017 Prize, was entranced with the evocative nature of the winning portrait Richard Morecroft and Alison Mackay.

Robert 'Twogun' Rosen, 1994

Collection: National Portrait Gallery
Gift of the artist 2003
Donated through the Australian Government's Cultural Gifts Program

Cathy Freeman, 1994

Collection: National Portrait Gallery
Purchased 1999

Madame Melba, 1922

Purchased 2015

Kylie

Kylie Minogue, one of Australia's most famous cultural exports is now the subject of her own exhibition.

Cathy Freeman, 2000

Collection: National Portrait Gallery
Gift of David Caird and Melbourne Herald Sun 2003

Cathy Freeman, 1994 (printed 2010)

Collection: National Portrait Gallery
Purchased 2010

Portrait 58

Paul Cézanne, Bill Henson and Simone Young, Australian cinema’s iconic women, and feminist portraits by Kate Just.

National Photographic Portrait Prize 2015

National Portrait Gallery Director Angus Trumble invites media to the announcement of the winner and exhibition preview for the 2015 National Photographic Portrait Prize.

LeGarde Twins, c. 1966

Collection: National Portrait Gallery
Gift of the artist 2015

Cathy Freeman, 1999

Commissioned with funds provided by L Gordon Darling AC CMG 1999

Powerful, equal, legal love

Three weddings

Billy Hughes paperweight, n.d.

Collection: National Portrait Gallery
Gift of Ric Techow and Jenny Techow-Coleman in memory of Roy and Bet Techow 2001

Rick Carey, WA, 1998 (printed 2004)

Collection: National Portrait Gallery
Gift of the artist 2005

Walala Tjapaltjarri, 2009

Gift of Patrick Corrigan AM 2020. Donated through the Australian Government's Cultural Gifts Program.

Dame Nellie Melba,

Collection: National Portrait Gallery
Purchased 2007

George Moore, 1957

Collection: National Portrait Gallery
Purchased 2003

Honour board

The National Portrait Gallery acknowledges and thanks all its supporters.

Last week to vote for your favourite portrait

The National Portrait Gallery’s National Photographic Portrait Prize 2015 will close Monday 8 June 2015, this is the last week to visit the exhibition in Canberra and vote for your favourite portrait in the People’s Choice.

David Warren, c. 2004

Collection: National Portrait Gallery
Gift of the Defence Science and Technology Organisation, Commonwealth Department of Defence 2005

Idle Hours

Idle hours is an exhibition of luxurious beauty. Paintings, prints and drawings represent subjects in quiet moods and situations arranged according to the time of day they depict - reading, drawing, snoozing, bathing, sewing, gardening, sitting, looking, making love and spending tranquil time with companions. Works in the exhibition range from the beginning of the twentieth century to the present.

Observation point

I wanted to be a journalist. I was very idealistic and I had a big chip on my shoulder. I wanted to investigate the human condition, drawing attention to those in need with the hope of someday effecting positive change.

Lust for life

Celebrated Sydney-based photographer and performer William Yang was commissioned by the National Portrait Gallery to produce a new performance work that premiered at the opening of the Gallery's new building.

Feather voted the people’s favourite

The National Portrait Gallery is thrilled to announce that the People’s Choice award for this year’s National Photographic Portrait Prize goes to Natalie Grono from Byron Bay for her photograph Feather and the Goddess Pool 2014.

Nellie Melba, 1898

Collection: National Portrait Gallery
Purchased 2010

Mr Sidney Myer AM appointed inaugural President of the National Portrait Gallery’s Foundation

Dr Helen Nugent AO, Chairman, National Portrait Gallery Board announced today the appointment of Mr Sidney Myer AM as the inaugural President of the newly established National Portrait Gallery Foundation.

Dr Sarah Engledow

Dr Sarah Engledow was appointed Historian at the National Portrait Gallery in 1999.

Supporters

Andrew Sayers Memorial Lecture

Writer, broadcaster and cultural commentator Benjamin Law explores contemporary portraiture and the press.

Twin chics

Joanna Gilmour on the exuberant union of fashion pioneers Jenny Kee and Linda Jackson, captured in luminescent splendour by artist Carla Fletcher.

Rennie Ellis

Rennie Ellis: Aussies All is a celebration of the life and work of the late Australian photographer Rennie Ellis.

Lewis Morley

Lewis Morley has a great eye for a shot and a sharp ear for a pun

Portrait Donors

2021 Annual Appeal

In 2021 the Annual Appeal was focussed on Peter Brew-Bevan's portraits of athletes Turia Pitt, Leisel Jones OAM and Ellie Cole OAM.

Splendid, many-splendoured

Sandra Bruce gazes on love and the portrait through Australian Love Stories’ multi-faceted prism.

Macquarie Digital Portraiture Award media information

The National Portrait Gallery recently announced the finalists for the Macquarie Digital Portraiture Award 2013.

Announcing... Portrait23: Identity

In this major new exhibition marking the National Portrait Gallery’s third decade, 23 Australian artists and collectives have been invited to create portraits without constraints or boundaries.

Icons

When a portrait communicates determination and individuality as boldly as these do, it has the potential to become an iconic image. For the Gallery’s 20th birthday this display brings together a group contemporary photographic portraits of inspiring women and men.

First Ladies

First Ladies profiles women who have achieved noteworthy firsts over the past 100 years.

Henry Squires, c. 1861

Purchased 2009

The art of conciliation

Gareth Knapman explores the politics and opportunism behind the portraits of Tasmania’s Black War.

101 photographic portraits

Pat Corrigan's generous gift of 100 photographic portraits by Greg Weight.

National Photographic Portrait Prize 2020

The exhibition is selected from a national field of entries, reflecting the distinctive vision of Australia's aspiring and professional portrait photographers and the unique nature of their subjects.

Of jumpers and river gums, red

Diana O’Neil on Noel Counihan’s vivid 1971 portrait of Alan Marshall.

Australian Visit

The exhibition will include works of art from the NPG Canberra's permanent collection with some inward loans and aims to highlight the achievements of notable Australians.

Australian of the Year

The Australian of the Year Awards have often provoked controversy about who is selected and whether their achievements are remarkable.

Primed

Seventeen of Australia’s thirty prime ministers to date are represented in the contrasting sizes, moods and mediums of these portraits.

Sideshow Alley

Death masks, post-mortem drawings and other spooky and disquieting portraits... Come and see how portraits of infamous Australians were used in the 19th century.

Blue Collar Icon

Dr Sarah Engledow delves into the life of union leader Pat Mackie who is depicted in a portrait by Nancy Borlase AM.

Annual Appeal

Illuminating history

Joanna Gilmour reflects on 25 years of collecting at the National Portrait Gallery.

Kylie

The Kylie exhibition celebrated the significant achievements of one of Australia's most internationally recognisable faces and gave the general public a rare glimpse into her glamorous life. 

Personal Politics

Lovingly observed

Sarah Engledow previews the beguiling summer exhibition, Idle hours.

Powerful Indigenous women

June Oscar AO lauds three iconic Aboriginal figures in the Portrait Gallery collection who have inspired and influenced her.

Final frame

Karl James reflects on soldier portraiture during the Great War.

Hump days

Jessica Bolton navigates the parallel tracks documenting Robyn Davidson’s astonishing journey.

Hired guns, bounty hunters and horse whisperers

Jude Rae contemplates the portrait commission.

The personal and the historical

Where do we draw a line between the personal and the historical? Although she died in Melbourne in 1975, when I was not quite eleven years old, I have the vividest memories of my maternal grandmother Helen Borthwick.

Women make history

Jennifer Higgie uncovers the intriguing stories behind portraits of women by women in the National Portrait Gallery’s collection.

Out of the shadows

Joanna Gilmour profiles the life and times of the shutter sisters May and Mina Moore.

The more things change...

Dr Sarah Engledow, National Photographic Portrait Prize judge and curator, introduces the 2017 Prize.

20/20 launch speech

Dr Helen Nugent AO, Chairman, National Portrait Gallery at the opening of 20/20: Celebrating twenty years with twenty new portrait commissions.

Painting writing

Dr Sarah Engledow explores the portraits of writers held in the National Portrait Gallery's collection.

You are who?

Joanna Gilmour reflects on merging collections and challenging traditional assumptions around portraiture in WHO ARE YOU.

The Rothschilds, the Montefiores, and the Victorian Gold Rush

Some years ago my colleague Andrea Wolk Rager and I spent several days in the darkened basement of a Rothschild Bank, inspecting every one of the nearly 700 autochromes created immediately before World War I by the youthful Lionel de Rothschild.

Nicholas Harding: 28 Portraits

Sarah Engledow looks at three decades of Nicholas Harding's portraiture.