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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.

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Portrait Artist of the Year

Magazine article by Rachel Hopkins, 2025

Rachel Hopkins goes behind the scenes of the new ABC competition series, Portrait Artist of the Year.

Dr Joseph Brown with Two Typists

Shared affinities

Magazine article by Dr Emma Kindred and Isobel Parker Philip, 2025

Emma Kindred and Isobel Parker Philip tease out the uncanny parallels between artists John Brack and Noel McKenna.

Seeking affirmation of a mother

In profile

Magazine article by Serena Bentley, 2025

Serena Bentley talks to multidisciplinary artist Scotty So about drag, mother figures, holograms and the performative nature of identity.

Albert and Vincent

Together on Country

Magazine article by Dr Emma Kindred, 2025

Emma Kindred considers the artistic lineage and deep Ancestral connection between Vincent Namatjira and his great-grandfather Albert Namatjira.

Romance Was Born, Regional Australia, 2006, with Del Kathryn Barton

Portrait x Romance Was Born

Magazine article by Glynis Traill-Nash, 2025

Glynis Traill-Nash on Samuel Hodge’s portrait of Romance Was Born.

Performance still of Emily Hunt: The Grotto presented at the Art Gallery of New South Wales on 26 June 2024 Photo © Art Gallery of NSW, Anna Kucera and Jenni Carter

In Profile

Magazine article by Isobel Parker Philip and Dr Emma Kindred, 2025

Isobel Parker Philip and Emma Kindred delve into Emily Hunt’s embellished marionettes and intricate etchings which layer history, memory and magic.

Ryan Presley in front of his artwork Paradise won

Ryan Presley

In conversation

Magazine article by April Phillips, 2024

April Phillips (Wiradjuri-Scottish, kalari/galari) yarns with Marri Ngarr artist Ryan Presley about portraiture, resilience and the spirit held within fire.

I’ll miss you copying things, 2018 Joan Ross

When birds no longer sing

Magazine article by Dr Emma Kindred, 2024

Emma Kindred looks at the career of Joan Ross, whose work subverts colonial imagery and its legacy with the clash of fluorescent yellow.

Overstepping, 2001 Julie Rrap

Julie Rrap

Magazine article by Joanna Gilmour, 2024

Feminism, risktaking and the politics of looking: Joanna Gilmour steps into the world of Julie Rrap.

HRH Crown Princess Mary of Denmark, 2006 Ralph Heimans AM

Human encounters

Magazine article by Joanna Gilmour, 2023

Joanna Gilmour takes us behind the scenes of some of Ralph Heimans’ best-known portraits of royalty, heads of state and cultural icons.

Miss Frances Samuel

The art of dress

Magazine article by Dr Emma Kindred, 2023

Emma Kindred examines fashion as a representation of self and social ritual in 19th-century portraiture.

Emily Kame Kngwarreye with Lily

Illuminating history

Magazine article by Joanna Gilmour, 2023

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

The Wedding, 2022 Atong Atem

See through me

Magazine article by Penelope Grist and Rebecca Ray, 2022

Penelope Grist and Rebecca Ray talk to the artists in Portrait23: Identity about transcending modes of portraiture.

Self portrait, 1980
Alice Neel

Hard truths

Magazine article by Jennifer Higgie, 2022

Jennifer Higgie reveals how Alice Neel reinvigorated 20th century portraiture with her honest and perceptive depictions of the human experience.

Une Femme Amoureuse, Self portrait as Mireille Mathieu, 2022 Yvette Coppersmith

You, looking at me

Magazine article by Elspeth Pitt, 2022

Elspeth Pitt chats with Archibald Prize-winning artist Yvette Coppersmith about performance, coincidences and the intersection of art and life.

Portrait of Professor Derek Freeman

Paper weight

Magazine article by Joanna Gilmour, 2022

Joanna Gilmour delves into a collection display that celebrates the immediacy and potency of drawing as an art form in its own right.

© National Portrait Gallery 2026
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