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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.

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Mum Shirl (Mrs Shirley Smith)

Shirley Smith AO MBE

Shirley 'Mum Shirl' Smith AO OBE (1921–1998), humanitarian, was a Wiradjuri woman.

1 portrait in the collection

Rolf de Heer, Adelaide, SA

Rolf de Heer, Adelaide, SA

Rolf de Heer, Adelaide, SA

Rolf de Heer, Adelaide, SA, 2004

Portrait, type C photograph on paper

Collection: National Portrait Gallery
Gift of the artist 2005

Professor Germaine Greer

Polly Borland on Germaine Greer

In their own words

In their own words

Recorded 2017

Angel Street (Adam Cullen)

Adam Cullen

Adam Cullen (1965-2012), painter, studied art in Sydney from 1986 to 1999, when he obtained his master’s degree in fine arts from the University of New South Wales.

8 portraits in the collection

H. B. Gullett

Henry Baynton Somer Gullett AM MC

Henry Baynton Somer ‘Jo’ Gullett AM MC (1914-1999), soldier, politician, ambassador, farmer and author, was the son of Sir Henry Gullett, who was one of the Australian official historians of the First World War.

1 portrait in the collection

Chris Wallace-Crabbe

Chris Wallace-Crabbe

Chris Wallace-Crabbe

Chris Wallace-Crabbe, 2011

Kristin Headlam

Portrait, oil on linen

Purchased with the assistance of funds provided by the Circle of Friends 2014

Stan Coster, Manilla, NSW

Thousand Mile Stare

Portrait photography by John Elliott

Previous exhibition, 2004

Thousand mile stare provides a unique portrait of people of rural Australia

Desert Island

Eric Thake

Eric Thake (1904-1982), printmaker, painter and photographer, trained at the National Gallery School and the George Bell School and showed with the Contemporary Group in Melbourne between 1932 and 1938 before serving as an official war artist in the RAAF.

7 portraits in the collection

Mr Movies - Bill Collins OAM

Mr Movies - Bill Collins OAM

Mr Movies - Bill Collins OAM

Mr Movies - Bill Collins OAM, 2009

Portrait, oil on linen

Gift of Joan Collins and the Todd-Wilson family in memory of Bill Collins 2019. Donated through the Australian Government's Cultural Gifts Program.

Henry Mayer

Henry Mayer

Henry Mayer (1919-1991) was Professor of Government at Sydney University from the 1960s to 1980s.

2 portraits in the collection

George Hoyningen-Huene and Jessie the Barmaid

Jessie Sinden

Jessie Sinden was a barmaid at the Brooklyn Hotel on George Street in Sydney when she was 'discovered' by Baron George Hoyningen-Huene, a high-profile American fashion photographer and Hollywood figure.

1 portrait in the collection

Mark Ella

Mark Ella

Mark Ella

Mark Ella, 2015

Portrait, type C photograph on paper

Commissioned with funds from the Patrick Corrigan Portrait Commission Series 2015

Tessa Birnie

Tessa Daphne Birnie OAM

Tessa Daphne Birnie OAM (1934-2008), concert pianist, claimed to have decided on a career in music after hearing a piano at her local hall as a four-year old.

1 portrait in the collection

image not online

All in the Family

Magazine article by Barbara Blackman AO, 2003

In 2000, Barbara Blackman donated a portrait of her close friends - poet Judith Wright, her husband Jack McKinney and their daughter Meredith - painted by Charles Blackman.

Sunshine and rain, Lygon Street

Sunshine and rain, Lygon Street

Sunshine and rain, Lygon Street

Sunshine and rain, Lygon Street, 1964

Portrait, linocut on paper

Gift of Professor Van Sommers 2011

Epstein/Einstein? I can never remember!

Epstein/Einstein? I can never remember!

Epstein/Einstein? I can never remember!

Epstein/Einstein? I can never remember!, 1962

Portrait, linocut on paper

Gift of Professor Van Sommers 2011

© National Portrait Gallery 2024
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Phone +61 2 6102 7000
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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 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