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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.

Portrait of Patricia Piccinini
Portrait of Patricia Piccinini
Portrait of Patricia Piccinini
Allissa Oughtred

Portrait of Patricia Piccinini, 2019

Portrait, inkjet print on paper

Gift of an anonymous donor 2019

Portrait of Patricia Piccinini

Patricia Piccinini

Biography

Patricia Piccinini (b. 1965) is an artist best known for her mutant life-like creatures rendered in silicone and her iconic hot-air balloons.

1 portrait in the collection

Patricia Piccinini and Allissa Oughtred

Patricia Piccinini and Allissa Oughtred

'Observing the reality as it's unfolding'
Portrait story

Patricia and Allissa on making a portrait together.

by Patricia Piccinini The Long Awaited, 2008

Patricia Piccinini

More about In the flesh artists

Patricia Piccinini was born in Sierra Leone and grew up in Canberra. She received a BFA from the Victorian College of the Arts, Melbourne in 1991. In 1994 she initiated The Basement Project Gallery in Melbourne, which she coordinated until 1996. Her 2003 exhibition We Are Family represented Australia at the 50th Venice Biennale.

Little Pattie
Little Pattie
Little Pattie
Ern McQuillan OAM

Little Pattie, 1966 (printed 2019)

Portrait, gelatin silver photograph on paper

Purchased 2019

Patricia 'Bambi' Tuckwell (Shmith)
Patricia 'Bambi' Tuckwell (Shmith)
Patricia 'Bambi' Tuckwell (Shmith)
Max Dupain OBE

Patricia 'Bambi' Tuckwell (Shmith), c. 1952

Portrait, gelatin silver photograph on paper

Collection: National Portrait Gallery
Purchased with funds provided by Timothy Fairfax AC 2003

image not online
an unknown artist

Set of 129 Royal Christmas Cards and three miscellaneous items, 1951-2001

Portrait, offset print (tipped in), letter press (greeting), pen and ink (signature), embossed (royal emblem) on cardboard

Collection: National Portrait Gallery
Gift of Patricia Tryon Macdonald 2005
Donated through the Australian Government's Cultural Gifts Program

Little Pattie

Patricia T. Thompson OAM

Biography

Patricia Thelma Thompson OAM (née Amphlett, b. 1949), better known as Little Pattie, first appeared on Australian television at age thirteen in 1962.

1 portrait in the collection

Pat Corrigan
Pat Corrigan
Pat Corrigan
Anne Zahalka

Pat Corrigan, 2007 (printed 2021)

Portrait, type C photograph on paper

Purchased 2021

Barry Tuckwell
Barry Tuckwell
Barry Tuckwell
June Mendoza AO OBE

Barry Tuckwell, 1991

Portrait, oil on canvas

Collection: National Portrait Gallery
Gift of David Tuckwell 2018

Portrait of Professors Margaret Gardner and Glyn Davis
Portrait of Professors Margaret Gardner and Glyn Davis
Portrait of Professors Margaret Gardner and Glyn Davis
Jacqueline Mitelman

Portrait of Professors Margaret Gardner and Glyn Davis, 2017

Portrait, type C photograph on paper

Commissioned with funds provided by Jim and Barbara Higgins, Sir Roderick Carnegie AC, Rupert Myer AO and Annabel Myer, Louise and Martyn Myer Foundation, Peter and Ruth McMullin, Diana Carlton, Professor Derek Denton AC, Harold Mitchell AC, Peter Jopling AM KC, Andrew and Liz Mackenzie, Patricia Patten, Tamie Fraser AO, Bruce Parncutt and Robin Campbell, Lauraine Diggins, Steven Skala AO and Lousje Skala 2017

by Patricia Piccinini Bedroom, 10.30 pm (from 'The Fitzroy Series'), 2011

Acceptance

More about In the flesh

Patricia Piccinini’s photographic series SO2 and The Fitzroy Series explore human acceptance of difference – applied empathy – through children’s interactions with trans-species creatures.

by Patricia Piccinini The Long Awaited, 2008

Empathy

More about In the flesh

Patricia Piccinini places empathy at the heart of her practice. The tenderness of the moment dominates.

by Jan Nelson Walking in tall grass, Lucy, 2010

More about In the flesh artists

General content

The exhibition features work from Jan Nelson, Natasha Bieniek, Patricia Piccinini, Juan Ford, Petrina Hicks, Ron Mueck, Yanni Floros, Sam Jinks, Michael Peck and Robin Eley.

by Sam Jinks Divide, 2011

In the Flesh

15 October 2014
Archived media releases 2014

Press releases and image downloads for media.

by Sam Jinks Still Life (Pieta), 2007

More about In the flesh

General content

In the flesh is realised through moments of intimacy, empathy, transitions in life and the transience of life, vulnerability, alienation, restlessness, self-reflection, mortality and acceptance.

© National Portrait Gallery 2026
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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