Skip to main content

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.

Blow Back

Petrina Hicks

Biography

Petrina Hicks (b. 1972) is a photographer whose work interrogates female identity and the representation of women throughout history.

3 portraits in the collection

Layne Beachley
Layne Beachley
Layne Beachley
Petrina Hicks

Layne Beachley, 2008

Portrait, single channel moving image, colour, silent, continuous loop

Commissioned 2008

Layne Beachley
Layne Beachley
Layne Beachley
Petrina Hicks

Layne Beachley, 2008

Portrait, inkjet print on paper

Commissioned 2008

Gill Hicks
Gill Hicks
Gill Hicks
Tony Kearney

Gill Hicks, 2016

Portrait, inkjet print on paper

Purchased 2016

by Petrina Hicks Adams Apple, 2013

Petrina Hicks

More about In the flesh artists

Petrina Hicks has exhibited widely throughout Australia, and internationally, including Germany, Spain, France, Italy, USA and Japan. Her work was selected for screening in the 17th International Videobrasil (2011) and featured in Pingyao International Photography Festival, China (2010).

Layne Beachley

Everybody's heard about the bird

Magazine article by Dr Sarah Engledow, 2008

Two professionals; Australian surfer Layne Beachley and photographer Petrina Hicks, combine their strengths to achieve a remarkable portrait.

Gill Hicks

Dr Gill Hicks AM MBE

Biography

Gill Hicks AM MBE (b. 1968) is a peace advocate, author, musician and artist.

1 portrait in the collection

Gill Hicks. Duration: 5 minutes 9 seconds

Gill Hicks

'I have found a peace within myself'
Portrait story

Peace advocate, author, musician and artist Gill Hicks on her portrait by Tony Kearney.

Penelope Seidler
Penelope Seidler
Penelope Seidler
Anne Zahalka

Penelope Seidler, 2019 (printed 2021)

Portrait, pigment ink print on paper

Purchased 2021

Blow Back
Blow Back
Blow Back
Julie Rrap

Blow Back, 2018

Portrait, pigment photographic prints on paper, hand ground glass

Gift of the artist 2024. Donated through the Australian Government’s Cultural Gifts Program.

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 Petrina Hicks Adams Apple, 2013

Alienation

More about In the flesh

Segregated from their fellow humans in cellophane prisons, reference points are removed, so it is not certain whether these naked figures could be unwrapped, are about to be subsumed, or will forever be suspended in a plastic stasis.

by Sam Jinks Divide, 2011

In the Flesh

15 October 2014
Archived media releases 2014

Press releases and image downloads for media.

by Lee Grant Charlie, 2017

National Photographic Portrait Prize 2018 winner announced

23 March 2018
Archived media releases 2018

Finalists have been eagerly awaiting the announcement of the Winner and Highly Commended for the National Photographic Portrait Prize since December. It is our pleasure to announce the Winner for 2018 is Lee Grant for her portrait titled Charlie and Highly Commended has been awarded to Filomena Rizzo for her portrait titled My Olivia.

Penelope Seidler

Now & then

Penelope Seidler
Magazine article, 2024

Photographed 60 years apart, these portraits trace the lives and love story of Penelope Seidler AO and Harry Seidler OBE.

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
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