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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.

Search / helen garner

Helen Garner

Helen Garner

Helen Garner (b. 1942), author and journalist, is one of Australia's best-known writers.

8 portraits in the collection

Helen Garner

Helen Garner

In their own words

In their own words

Recorded 1982

Helen Garner in her kitchen, 2018 by Mia McDonald

Helen Garner in her kitchen, 2018

by Mia McDonald

Study for portrait of Helen Garner

Study for portrait of Helen Garner

Study for portrait of Helen Garner

Study for portrait of Helen Garner, 2003

Portrait, charcoal on paper

Collection: National Portrait Gallery
Gift of the artist 2007

Study for portrait of Helen Garner

Study for portrait of Helen Garner

Study for portrait of Helen Garner

Study for portrait of Helen Garner, 2003

Portrait, pastel over digital print on paper

Collection: National Portrait Gallery
Gift of the artist 2005

Study (d) for portrait of Helen Garner

Study (d) for portrait of Helen Garner

Study (d) for portrait of Helen Garner

Study (d) for portrait of Helen Garner, 2003

Portrait, charcoal, pencil and oil on canvas

Collection: National Portrait Gallery
Gift of J Sages Family Trust 2009
Donated through the Australian Government's Cultural Gifts Program

Study (c) for portrait of Helen Garner

Study (c) for portrait of Helen Garner

Study (c) for portrait of Helen Garner

Study (c) for portrait of Helen Garner, 2003

Portrait, charcoal, pencil and oil on canvas

Collection: National Portrait Gallery
Gift of J Sages Family Trust 2009
Donated through the Australian Government's Cultural Gifts Program

Study (b) for portrait of Helen Garner

Study (b) for portrait of Helen Garner

Study (b) for portrait of Helen Garner

Study (b) for portrait of Helen Garner, 2003

Portrait, charcoal, pencil and oil on canvas

Collection: National Portrait Gallery
Gift of J Sages Family Trust 2009
Donated through the Australian Government's Cultural Gifts Program

Study (a) for portrait of Helen Garner

Study (a) for portrait of Helen Garner

Study (a) for portrait of Helen Garner

Study (a) for portrait of Helen Garner, 2003

Portrait, charcoal, pencil and oil on canvas

Collection: National Portrait Gallery
Gift of J Sages Family Trust 2009
Donated through the Australian Government's Cultural Gifts Program

Helen Garner

Helen Garner

Helen Garner

Helen Garner, 2004

Portrait, type C photograph on paper

Collection: National Portrait Gallery
Gift of the artist 2006

True Stories - Helen Garner

True Stories - Helen Garner

True Stories - Helen Garner

True Stories - Helen Garner, 2003

Portrait, encaustic, oil and pigment on composition board

Gift of the artist 2004. Donated through the Australian Government's Cultural Gifts Program.

True Stories - Helen Garner

True Stories

Magazine article by Simon Elliott, 2005

The story behind the creation of the portrait of Helen Garner by Jenny Sages.

True Stories - Helen Garner

Jenny Sages

Paths to Portraiture

Previous exhibition, 2010

The exhibition Sages examines the process of portrait making through four large-scale portraits of women by Jenny Sages, paired with intimate preparatory drawings.

Dame Mary Gilmore

Painting writing

Magazine article by Dr Sarah Engledow, 2007

Dr Sarah Engledow explores the portraits of writers held in the National Portrait Gallery's collection.

Chips Rafferty and Helen Grieve

Helen Grieve

Helen Grieve (1931–1981), child actress, was born in Sydney. Her first film role was in The Overlanders (1946), opposite Chips Rafferty.

1 portrait in the collection

image not online

Helen Edwards

Helen Edwards, a member of Portrait Artists Australia, has been a finalist in the Black Swan Prize four times, the Shirley Hannan Portrait Prize in Bega once and has been selected for the Salon des Refusés of the Archibald twice.

1 portrait in the collection

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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