© National Portrait Gallery 2025
King Edward Terrace, Parkes
Canberra, ACT 2600, Australia
Phone +61 2 6102 7000
ABN: 54 74 277 1196
A sketch for some portraits
Magazine article by Judith Pugh, 2005
Judith Pugh reflects on Clifton Pugh's approach to portrait making.
Clifton Pugh AO
Biography
Clifton Pugh AO was one of Australia’s best-known artists of the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s, and one of its leading advocates for the arts.
12 portraits in the collection
Clifton Pugh
In their own words
In their own words
Recorded 1965
Sketch for portrait of Tom Uren, 1972
Clifton Pugh AO
Portrait, oil and enamel on hardboard
Collection: National Portrait Gallery
Gift of Tom Uren's family 2017
Donated through the Australian Government's Cultural Gifts Program
Clifton Pugh painting in the studio, 1974
Fred Williams
Portrait, oil on canvas
Collection: National Portrait Gallery
Gift of Lyn Williams AM 2011
Donated through the Australian Government's Cultural Gifts Program
Eric McIllree, 1971
Clifton Pugh AO
Portrait, oil on masonite
Collection: National Portrait Gallery
Gift of Janice McIllree 2012
Donated through the Australian Government's Cultural Gifts Program
Barry Humphries, 1958
Clifton Pugh AO
Portrait, oil on canvas
Gift of L Gordon Darling AC CMG and Marilyn Darling AC 1998. Donated through the Australian Government's Cultural Gifts Program.
A Portrait (Kate Hattam), 1956
Clifton Pugh AO
Portrait, oil on board
Purchased 2006
Clyde Cameron, 1974
Clifton Pugh AO
Portrait, oil on masonite
Collection: National Portrait Gallery
Gift of the Estate of Clyde Cameron 2012
Sir Lindesay Clark, 1973
Clifton Pugh AO
Portrait, oil on canvas
Gift of Alcoa World Alumina Australia 2005. Donated through the Australian Government's Cultural Gifts Program.
John Olsen, 1971
Clifton Pugh AO
Portrait, oil on board
Gift of the Bardas families, in memory of Sandra Bardas OAM and David Bardas AO 2024. Donated through the Australian Government's Cultural Gifts Program.
Study of Archbishop Daniel Mannix, 1962
Clifton Pugh AO
Portrait, oil on composition board
Collection: National Portrait Gallery
Purchased 2005
Sketch of Clifton Pugh painting John Perceval, 1985
Rick Amor
Portrait, pencil on paper
Collection: National Portrait Gallery
Gift of the artist 2016
Clifton Pugh and John Olsen, Dunmoochin, 1969
Mark Strizic
Portrait, type C photograph on paper
Collection: National Portrait Gallery
Purchased 1999
David Armstrong, B.A., B. Phil., 1959
Clifton Pugh AO
Portrait, oil on masonite
Gift of Jennifer Armstrong 2018. Donated through the Australian Government's Cultural Gifts Program.
Painting mates
Magazine article by Michael Desmond, 2011
Michael Desmond discusses Fred Williams' portraits of friends, artist Clifton Pugh, David Aspden and writer Stephen Murray-Smith, and the stylistic connections between his portraits and landscapes.