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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.

Barry Humphries

Uncommon Australians

The vision of Gordon and Marilyn Darling
General content

Sarah Engledow writes about Gordon and Marilyn Darling and their support for the National Portrait Gallery throughout its evolution.

Gordon and Marilyn Darling interview

General content

Gordon and Marilyn Darling talk about the origins of the National Portrait Gallery and some of their favourite portraits.

L. Gordon Darling AC CMG

L. Gordon Darling AC CMG

31 August 2015
Archived media releases 2015

The Chairman, Board, Director and all the Staff of the National Portrait Gallery mourn the loss of our Founding Patron, who died peacefully in Melbourne this morning. He was 94.

HRH Crown Princess Mary of Denmark, 2006 Ralph Heimans AM

Announcing... Ralph Heimans: Portraiture. Power. Influence.

30 November 2023
Media

In March 2024, the National Portrait Gallery will launch a major exhibition of the work of Ralph Heimans AM, the Australian artist who’s painted some of the world’s most recognisable people.

Habitat of monstera II (Self-portrait with yellow paisley jacket), 2023 Bahman Kermany

Darling Portrait Prize

Prizes and awards

The Darling Portrait Prize is a biennial national prize for Australian portrait painting honouring the legacy of Mr L Gordon Darling AC CMG (1921-2015), who was instrumental in establishing the National Portrait Gallery of Australia. The winner receives a cash prize of $75,000.

Selfie Factory, 2017 by Ralph Kenke and Elmar Trefz

Ralph Kenke and Elmar Trefz win Digital Portraiture Award with Selfie Factory

1 December 2017
Archived media releases 2017

The National Portrait Gallery is pleased to announce Mr Ralph Kenke and Mr Elmar Trefz are the winners of the Digital Portraiture Award 2017 for their submission Selfie Factory.

Gordon Darling Hall

Gordon Darling Hall

Spaces

Just inside the entrance, the Hall has a soaring ceiling and plenty of natural light.

The Darling

The Darling

Moustaches

Beards were generally been out for British military men in the 1800s: civilians might have worn them as badges of masculinity, but in the army they were perhaps a bit too close to indiscipline for comfort.

William Nuttall with horses in field, 2023 Noel McKenna

Winner announcements

National Photographic Portrait Prize and Darling Portrait Prize
Prizes and awards

Noel McKenna has won the 2024 Darling Portrait Prize and Amos Gebhardt has won the National Photographic Portrait Prize 2024.

Terms and conditions

Darling Portrait Prize 2024
Darling Portrait Prize

These terms and conditions govern entries to the National Portrait Gallery’s Darling Portrait Prize 2024.

Frequently Asked Questions

Darling Portrait Prize 2024
Darling Portrait Prize
Selfie Factory, 2017 by Ralph Kenke and Elmar Trefz, video: 3 minutes

Selfie Factory, 2017

by Ralph Kenke and Elmar Trefz
General content

Winner, DPA 2017
Mixed media installation

Gordon and Marilyn Darling

Honour board

Support your Portrait Gallery

The National Portrait Gallery acknowledges and thanks all its supporters.

National Portrait Gallery Art Handlers' Award

Art Handlers' Award 2024

General content

This year, Nena Salobir Self portrait on washcloth 2024 has been selected for the 2024 Darling Portrait Prize Art Handlers’ award.

Cocktail reception

Options

We can provide a stunning, sophisticated space for your cocktail reception.

People's Choice Award announcement

General content

We are delighted to announce the winner of the $10,000 People's Choice Award for the inaugural Darling Portrait Prize is David Darcy for his painting of farmer and environmentalist Wendy Bowman.

© National Portrait Gallery 2024
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