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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.

Gallery One, September 2024

Conversation pieces

Magazine article by Dr Emma Kindred, 2025

Curator Emma Kindred shares a glimpse of the creative process behind her selection of works for the National Portrait Gallery’s salon hang.

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.

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.

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

Emily Hunt
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.

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.

Australian Dance Party and Catapult Dance performing Connecting Stories: Innovations at the National Portrait Gallery, 2022 Lorna Sim

Let’s dance

Magazine article by Emma Batchelor, 2022

Emma Batchelor uncovers the compelling contemporary dance made in response to the works in Shakespeare to Winehouse.

Portrait 73

Magazine

Glynis Traill-Nash explores a new Romance Was Born commission, Emma Kindred looks at Vincent Namatjira, and Rebecca Blake profiles NPPP finalist Gerwyn Davies.

Portrait 71

Portrait 71

Magazine

Ryan Presley about portraiture, Emma Kindred on the career of Joan Ross, Ellie Buttrose looks at Archie Moore’s kith and kin, and Joanna Gilmour steps into the world of Julie Rrap.

Style Over Substance 2020 (still), 2020 The Huxleys

Observation point

Magazine article by The Huxleys, 2022

Growing up feeling isolated, ostracised and ornate in the heated homogeny of the suburbs of Perth and the Gold Coast we often longed and dreamed for an escape.

Portrait 67

Portrait 67

Winter 2022
Magazine

William Yang on his autobiographical self portraits, David Parker's 1970s and 80s Melbourne music photographs, seven-time NPPP finalist Chris Budgeon, and Benjamin Warlngundu Ellis.

Baz Luhrmann

Go glossy!

Magazine article by Katherine Russell, 2006

In association with the Glossy 2 exhibition, eight year 10,11 and 12 students spent two days transforming themselves into a variety of alter-egos in the first ever 8x10 Glossy Photo Shoot Workshop.

Ray Lawler

Diamond Doll

Magazine article by Karen Vickery, 2016

Karen Vickery delights in a thespian thread of the Australian yarn.

Thom Roberts

Trains, Towers and Thom Roberts

Magazine article by Isobel Parker Philip, 2025

Isobel Parker Philip introduces artist Thom Roberts, whose distinctive portraits of people, buildings and personified trains define the world as he experiences it.

Self portrait

Small worlds

Magazine article by Joanna Gilmour, 2010

Bess Norriss Tait created miniature watercolour portraits full of character and life.

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.

William Shakespeare, c. 1600-1610  associated with John Taylor

Take thy face hence

Magazine article by Joanna Gilmour, 2022

Joanna Gilmour travels through time to explore the National Portrait Gallery London’s masterpieces in Shakespeare to Winehouse.

© National Portrait Gallery 2026
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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