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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.

The Destruction of the Kelly gang (from The Australasian Sketcher, 17 July 1880)
The Destruction of the Kelly gang (from The Australasian Sketcher, 17 July 1880)
The Destruction of the Kelly gang (from The Australasian Sketcher, 17 July 1880)

The Destruction of the Kelly gang (from The Australasian Sketcher, 17 July 1880), 1880

Tom Carrington, The Australasian Sketcher
Portrait, wood engraving on paper

Purchased 2017

Pro Hart & Associates
Pro Hart & Associates
Pro Hart & Associates

Pro Hart & Associates, 2004

Nick Young
Portrait, oil on canvas

Collection: National Portrait Gallery
Gift of the artist 2004

Pro Hart, Broken Hill, NSW
Pro Hart, Broken Hill, NSW
Pro Hart, Broken Hill, NSW

Pro Hart, Broken Hill, NSW, 2004

John Elliott
Portrait, type C photograph on paper

Collection: National Portrait Gallery
Gift of the artist 2005

Little family, 2019 Gene Hart-Smith

Little family, 2019

Gene Hart-Smith
Image
William Robertson junior
William Robertson junior
William Robertson junior

William Robertson junior, c. 1857

Conway Hart
Portrait, oil on canvas

Collection: National Portrait Gallery
Purchased 2017

Cameron and the prosthetic arm, 2016 by Steve Wise

Cameron and the prosthetic arm, 2016

by Steve Wise
Image
Steve Kilbey
Steve Kilbey
Steve Kilbey

Steve Kilbey, 1981 (printed 2018)

Gary Ede
Portrait, inkjet print on paper

Purchased with funds provided by Wayne Williams 2018

Steve Waugh
Steve Waugh
Steve Waugh

Steve Waugh, 2001

Russell Shakespeare
Portrait, direct positive colour photograph

Collection: National Portrait Gallery
Gift of the artist 2002

Steve Irwin
Steve Irwin
Steve Irwin

Steve Irwin, 2005

Robin Sellick
Portrait, inkjet print on paper

Collection: National Portrait Gallery
Gift of the artist 2006

Music for the Soul, 2006 by Rick Carter

Music for the Soul, 2006

by Rick Carter
Image
Steve Irwin

Crikey!

Magazine article by Dr Sarah Engledow, 2006

Robin Sellick captured a rare moment of quietude from the late conservation star Steve Irwin.

Steph and Steve, 2012 by Zelko Nedic

Steph and Steve, 2012

by Zelko Nedic
Image
Self portrait, 2022 RJ Parker

Gulgawarnigu

Thinking of something, someone
Previous exhibition, 2023

In partnership with Big hART we are proud to present Gulgawarnigu - Thinking of something, someone, a national presentation of digital artworks created from Ngarluma country leramagadu (Roebourne), in the Pilbara region of Western Australia.

The Bushranger Tragedy (from The Australasian Sketcher, 23 November 1878)
The Bushranger Tragedy (from The Australasian Sketcher, 23 November 1878)
The Bushranger Tragedy (from The Australasian Sketcher, 23 November 1878)

The Bushranger Tragedy (from The Australasian Sketcher, 23 November 1878), 1878

an unknown artist, The Australasian Sketcher
Portrait, wood engraving on paper

Purchased 2003

Portrait 22

December 2006 - February 2007
Magazine

This issue of Portrait Magazine features Frank Packer, unconventional portraits of Prime Ministers, Glenn McGrath, Sam Haskins, Steve Irwin and more.

Prison photograph of Ned Kelly c.1873, image courtesy National Museum of Australia.

The outlaws coolly disported themselves

Ned Kelly & co at Euroa, 9 and 10 December 1878
About Face article

'Each man arrayed himself in a new rig from head to foot, and even such luxuries as soaps and perfumery were not despised'

Ned Kelly death mask
Ned Kelly death mask
Ned Kelly death mask

Ned Kelly death mask, date unknown

an unknown artist after Maximilian Kreitmayer
Portrait, cast plaster

Collection: National Portrait Gallery Study Collection, Canberra
Gift of John Molony 2018

Runners, 2010 by David Kelly

Runners, 2010

by David Kelly
Image
Sumbawa Pride - Life on a Boat With Eleven Kids, 2018 by Alex Vaughan

Sumbawa Pride - Life on a Boat With Eleven Kids, 2018

by Alex Vaughan
Image
Tim Flannery

Tim Flannery

In their own words
In their own words

Recorded 2016

Pat Painting No 1

Richard and Pat

Art, love, absurdity and exuberance
Passion

Partners in sparkle

Grant McLennan

Grant (No. 3 of Robert, Lindy, Grant)

Jenny Watson
Image
Young Mo (Roy Rene)
Young Mo (Roy Rene)
Young Mo (Roy Rene)

Young Mo (Roy Rene), 1977

Martin Sharp
Portrait, oil on galvanised iron

Gift of Richard Wherrett 1998. Donated through the Australian Government's Cultural Gifts Program.

James, 2012 by Myles Nelson

Myles Nelson

Finalist interviews

It was definitely a candid encounter as was the expression on the face. It was constructed insofar as the image was deliberately taken from a distance so as to minimize intrusion and to magnify the effect of the image.

Noah Taylor
Noah Taylor
Noah Taylor

Noah Taylor, 1994 (printed 2010)

Ross Honeysett
Portrait, gelatin silver photograph on paper

Collection: National Portrait Gallery
Gift of the artist 2010

Man of the year #4, 2011 by Agus Suwage

Beyond the Self

Contemporary Portraiture from Asia
Previous exhibition, 2011

This exhibition examines the representation of the self in current South and Southeast Asian art practice through the work of artists from India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Pakistan, Philippines and Thailand

The Go-Betweens, London, c.1986 Warwick Orme

Oz Indie

Under the Milky Way tonight
General content

It was the era of recording your favourite songs directly from the radio; of seeing the latest acts and clips on Countdown; and when the Aussie bands you saw on TV and heard in the charts were the ones you could see live at the pub.

Angus Trumble with Portrait of Sir Joseph Banks by Thomas Phillips

Banksia and grevillea

About Face article

Portraits can render honour to remarkable men and women, but there are other ways.

Paul Grabowsky
Paul Grabowsky
Paul Grabowsky

Paul Grabowsky, 2009

Martin Philbey
Portrait, type C photograph on paper

Commissioned with funds provided by Patrick Corrigan AM 2009

Paul Grabowsky
Paul Grabowsky
Paul Grabowsky

Paul Grabowsky, 2009

Martin Philbey
Portrait, type C photograph on paper

Commissioned with funds provided by Patrick Corrigan AM 2009

image not online

Supporters

$5,000 - $9,999
Honour board
Pat and Richard Larter, Luddenham, 1970s

Pin-ups

Magazine article by Dr Christopher Chapman, 2008

Christopher Chapman describes the art and life of Australian artist Richard Larter.

Ned Kelly death mask

Sideshow Alley

Infamy, the macabre & the portrait
Previous exhibition, 2015

Death masks, post-mortem drawings and other spooky and disquieting portraits... Come and see how portraits of infamous Australians were used in the 19th century.

The uncertain recovery, 2012 by Arianne McNaught

Arianne McNaught

Finalist interviews

I think the most important thing in capturing candid shots is to never take the photo when people are expecting you to press the shutter. The more poignant moments are not the stock standard images of people looking at the camera smiling but after or before when they are really interacting with each other.

Tim Fairfax AC

Tim Fairfax, 2018

by Russell Shakespeare
General content

Commissioned with funds provided by The Calvert-Jones Foundation 2018

Jacki Weaver

Jacki Weaver, 2018

by John Tsiavis
General content

Commissioned with funds provided by Marilyn Darling AC 2018

Lee Kernaghan near Broken Hill

Australian of the Year

Inspiring a Nation
Previous exhibition, 2010

The Australian of the Year Awards have often provoked controversy about who is selected and whether their achievements are remarkable.

Paul Grabowsky

Feel the music

Magazine article by Dr Christopher Chapman, 2010

Dr Christopher Chapman discusses the portrait of Australian composer Paul Grabowsky by photographer Martin Philbey.

Margaret Fulton

Masters of Fare

Chefs, winemakers, providores
Previous exhibition, 2004

Masters of fare: chefs, winemakers, providores celebrates men and women who have championed the unique culinary characteristics and produce of Australia, enriching our lives with new ideas and new flavours over the past forty years.

Potters' Portrait Pot

Of human clay

Magazine article by Michael Desmond, 2009

The first collaborative commission has arrived. It's a self portrait, it's ceramic and it's from Hermannsburg.

The vigil, 2011 by Anthony Anderton

Anthony Anderton

NPPP 2012 learning resource

An interview with the photographer.

Florence Austral

Pretty in peach

Magazine article by Joanna Gilmour, 2008
It's remarkable that the inner Melbourne suburb of Richmond has produced two of Australia's most successful opera singers. Three decades apart, but within a short distance of each other, both Helen Porter Mitchell and Florence Wilson were born.
M H Wednesday 11.15am from the series Self-harm, 2004

Big it up

Magazine article by Magda Keaney, 2005

Former National Portrait Gallery Curator Magda Keaney was a member of the selection panel of the Schwepes Photographic Portrait Prize 2004 at the National Portrait Gallery London.

Eden, 2011 by Arianne McNaught

Arianne McNaught

NPPP 2012 learning resource

An interview with the photographer.

Ladki number 1, 2001 by Hema Upadhyay

Hema Upadhyay

by Amrita Gupta Singh
Artist essays

Hema Upadhyay was born in Baroda in 1972 and moved to in Mumbai in 1998. Incorporating painting, installation, sculpture and printmaking, Upadhyay’s work often addresses issues related to migration, especially the experiences of those living in urban communities.

Sam and the Perfect World, 2005

The news from Washington

Magazine article by Lauretta Morton, 2006

Australia's former Cultural Attache to the USA, Ron Ramsey, describes the mood at the opening week of the revitalised American National Portrait Gallery.

Christian Waller with Baldur, Undine and Siren at Fairy Hills, 1932 by Napier Waller

Enigma

Magazine article by Dr Grace Blakeley-Carroll, 2015

Grace Carroll contemplates the curious case of Christian Waller.

Self-portrait in white jacket , 1901-02 Hugh Ramsay

Wunderkind lost

Magazine article by Inga Walton, 2021

Inga Walton on the brief but brilliant life of Hugh Ramsay.

Practising the Minuet (Miss Hilda Spong)

An actress and her fans

Magazine article by Dr Sarah Engledow, 2008

Dr. Sarah Engledow discovers the amazing life of Ms. Hilda Spong, little remembered star of the stage, who was captured in a portrait by Tom Roberts.

Lucy Culliton, 2016 by Mark Mohell

Lucy Culliton

Explore The Popular Pet Show

Most well-regarded pictures of chickens show them dead. A reliable way to tell if a chicken in a painting is dead is to check if it’s hanging upside down, because unlike, say, cockatoos, chickens don’t practise inversion for enjoyment in life.

image not online

Portrait Donors

Listed by year
Honour board
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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