Portrait Stories

Fiona Stanley

'Everyone knew who I was'

7 minutes

Fiona Stanley on her career as a paediatric epidemiologist, and working with Aboriginal communities.

Fiona Wood

'This is exquisite, that's what I will be'

6 minutes

Surgeon Fiona Wood on problem solving and saying 'yes'.

Jimmy & Jane Barnes and Jesse Lizotte

'All you need is love'

6 minutes

Jimmy & Jane Barnes with photographer Jesse Lizotte on collaborating and making their photograph in a bed of roses.

Barry Jones

'I was quite anxious to ensure the abolition of the death penalty'

7 minutes

Barry Jones, politician, lawyer and writer.

Jackie French

'What I was writing was fairly revolutionary'

8 minutes

Jackie French on starting writing at six years old, gardening and truth.

Malcolm McCusker & Vincent Fantauzzo

'How can I get out of doing this?'

6 minutes

Malcolm McCusker talks with artist Vincent Fantauzzo about starting out as a lawyer and becoming Governor of Western Australia.

Brett Canét-Gibson & Heath Bergersen

'My influence is around 1850'

6 minutes 30 seconds

Brett Canét-Gibson on making a portrait with Heath Bergersen.

Robert Fielding

'Looking deep within the eye of a person'

7 minutes

Robert Fielding on capturing the beauty and the essence of his people.

Luke Cornish

'I love getting into the Salon as a street artist because the whole ethos of that award is the refused, the rejected'

5 minutes 20 seconds

Luke Cornish, aka E.L.K. describes his street art and portraiture

Michael Peck

'I've been interested in realism for forever'

5 minutes 20 seconds

Artist Michael Peck describes the evolution of his painting style and the creation of his striking portrait of Neale Daniher.

Julian Kingma

'I look for those little, quiet gestures in between'

6 minutes

Photographer Julian Kingma describes his style of quiet portraiture that captures the spaces in between big gestures.

Patricia Piccinini and Allissa Oughtred

'Observing the reality as it's unfolding'

8 minutes

Patricia and Allissa on making a portrait together.

Rod McNicol and Jack Charles

'We're village elders on Smith Street'

8 minutes

Rod and Jack on the series of portraits they created together.

Lisa McCune

'I love working in theatre and film and television'

5 minutes

Lisa McCune on starting out on stage and acting in Blue Heelers.

Peter Russell-Clarke

'Use whatever colour you like'

6 minutes

Peter Russell-Clarke on colour in painting and cooking.

Sam Jinks

'I would argue that my work is not particularly realistic'

5 minutes 18 seconds

Sam Jinks on hyper realism and his motivations.

William Yang

'Feeling comfortable as a human being'

7 minutes 25 seconds

William Yang on his heritage and becoming a photographer in the 70s.

Gill Hicks

'I have found a peace within myself'

5 minutes 9 seconds

Peace advocate, author, musician and artist Gill Hicks on her portrait by Tony Kearney.

Lindy Morrison

'We were so lucky'

4 minutes 15 seconds

Musician Lindy Morrison on starting out as a drummer, and Jenny Watson's portraits of The Go-Betweens.

Polly Borland

'Everyone wants to know the story about the Queen'

5 minutes 23 seconds

Australian photographer, Polly Borland, describes the hectic experience of photographing Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.

Greg Weight

'If you've ever been in love, you will know how to be a photographer'

4 minutes 44 seconds

Greg Weight on working with Jiawei Shen, and starting out as a photographer.

The Huxleys

'Things are changing, which is really beautiful'

7 minutes 17 seconds

Will and Garrett on creating their costumes and being unconstrained in art and performance.

Ellie Cole

'I always dreamed of being a mermaid'

5 minutes 22 seconds

Ellie Cole on the freedom of the pool and being photographed by Peter Brew-Bevan.

Hugh Jackman by Vincent Fantauzzo

'I'm painting my truth'

16 minutes 21 seconds

Vincent Fantauzzo on painting his portrait of Hugh Jackman.

Peter Schipperheyn

'A quintessential Australian character'

5 minutes 37 seconds

Sculptor Peter Schipperheyn talks about working with marble and his portrait of Peter Garrett.

Gaby Kennard

'I'd like to learn to fly'

5 minutes 43 seconds

Aviator Gaby Kennard talks about her portrait and what motivated her to fly around the world.

Bill Henson

'Scale and presence'

5 minutes

Photographer Bill Henson describes creating his three part portrait of Simone Young.

David Williamson

'Playwriting, people and punchlines'

5 minutes 13 seconds

Australian playwright, David Williamson tells us tales from his career.

Sally Robinson

'Expect a polite refusal'

5 minutes

Artist Sally Robinson describes her career and the creation of her portrait of Tim Winton.

Jon Muir and Ian Darling

'My favourite place to be'

6 minutes

Filmmaker Ian Darling talks with adventurer Jon Muir about crossing the vast salt lakes of central Australia.

Dadang Christanto

'Buried in the beach'

5 minutes 6 seconds

Artist Dadang Christanto discusses his portrait taken by Hari Ho and how it relates to Dadang's sculpture 'Heads from the North'.

Anneliese Seubert

'My favourite subject was maths'

4 minutes 28 seconds

Anneliese Seubert describes the evolution of her modelling career, from Canberra schoolgirl to international supermodel.

Tilman Ruff

'To literally save the world'

8 minutes 30 seconds

Nobel Peace Prize laureate Professor Tilman Ruff AO has focused his efforts on the prohibition of nuclear weapons.

Carla Zampatti

'Frescoes, feminism and fashion'

4 minutes 37 seconds

Carla discusses her decision, at age six, to become a fashion designer and the subsequent evolution of her career.

Anna Meares and Narelle Autio

'Come along for the ride'

9 minutes 19 seconds

Champion track cyclist, Anna Meares, discusses her portrait with artist Narelle Autio.

Tan Le

'So many stars'

10 minutes 27 seconds

Tech entrepreneur Tan Le and photographer John Tsiavis.

Catherine Livingstone

A conversation between artist and subject

4 minutes 5 seconds

Businesswoman Catherine Livingstone and artist Mathew Lynn.

Jessica Mauboy

'Chaos and stillness'

6 minutes 36 seconds

Singer, songwriter and actress Jessica Mauboy with artist David Rosetzky.

David Foster

'What the tree saw'

7 minutes 30 seconds

World champion woodcutter David Foster and artist Jacqui Stockdale.

Michelle Simmons

Eureka moment

5 minutes 56 seconds

Professor Michelle Simmons and photographer Selina Ou.

Andrew Gaze

'Make it fun'

6 minutes 26 seconds

Basketballer Andrew Gaze and photographer George Fetting.

Nikki Toole

'Beauty and strength'

4 minutes 53 seconds

Photographer Nikki Toole describes the creation of her portrait of Rosie Batty.

Rosie Batty

'Together we will give victims a voice and demand our leaders act'

10 minutes 52 seconds

The 2015 Australian of the Year talks about grief and searching for recognition of, and action on, domestic violence.

David McAllister

'Complex stories without words'

4 minutes 45 seconds

Artistic Director of The Australian Ballet, David McAllister describes the trajectory of his relationship with dance.

Ken Done

'I am very Sydney'

3 minutes 36 seconds

Iconic Australian artist Ken Done discusses his life and career as a painter.

Mark Loane

'The small space we are given'

4 minutes 34 seconds

Ophthalmic surgeon and former Wallabies Captain, Mark Loane, discusses his sporting and professional career.

Christos Tsiolkas

'Learning to write saved my life'

4 minutes 35 seconds

Acclaimed Australian author, Christos Tsiolkas describes his childhood and how he came to write.

Quentin Bryce

'To change the world'

4 minutes 47 seconds

Australia's 25th Governor-General, Quentin Bryce, discusses her childhood, career paths and her portrait by Michael Zavros.

Brian Schmidt

'A celebration of science'

3 minutes 58 seconds

Astrophysicist, Nobel Prize laureate and Vice-Chancellor of the Australian National University, Professor Brian Schmidt chats about his career.

Mark Webber

'You've got to make of it what you will'

4 minutes 4 seconds

Champion racing driver, Mark Webber, discusses his childhood and racing career.

Kristin Headlam with Chris Wallace-Crabbe

'Poetry, painting and princesses'

3 minutes 9 seconds

Artist Kristin Headlam and poet Chris Wallace-Crabbe discuss their art.

Jacqueline Mitelman

'Buddha-nature'

3 minutes 37 seconds

Australian photographer, Jacqueline Mitelman, discusses her process for creating portraiture.

Professor Graeme Clark

'Scientific creativity'

4 minutes 44 seconds

Creator of the bionic ear, the Cochlear Implant, Professor Graeme Clark discusses his life and career.

Michael Leunig

'Drawing the human spirit'

6 minutes 27 seconds

Glenn Murcutt

'Strength and delicacy'

4 minutes

Award-winning Australian architect, Glenn Murcutt describes the philosophy of his architectural practice and his minimalist portrait by Ken Done.

David Malouf

'The person who is the writer'

4 minutes and 11 seconds

Australian author David Malouf discusses the creation of his portrait by artist Rick Amor.

Dave Graney and Clare Moore

'Why would you want to listen to pub rock?'

2 minutes 41 seconds

Dave Graney and Clare Moore discuss music, photography and bandoleros of meat.

Cadel Evans

'I believed in myself'

2 minutes 30 seconds

Australian champion cyclist Cadel Evans discusses his career.

Tim Flannery by Robert Hannaford

'The space around'

3 minutes and 21 seconds

Tim Flannery and artist Robert Hannaford discuss the creation of Tim's portrait.

Shane Gould

'Swimming is in my bones'

3 minutes 48 seconds

Shane Gould, Australian champion and Olympic gold medallist talks about her passion for swimming.

Ned Kelly and death masks

'Judge a person by their cover'

3 minutes 25 seconds

Alexandra Roginski explains the history behind the pseudo-science of phrenology.

Mandyam Srinivasan

'Hive minds'

3 minutes 37 seconds

An interview with Professor of Visual Neuroscience, University of Queensland, Mandyam Srinivasan.

Rod McNicol

'Life and Times'

3 minutes

Echoing 19th-century photography, Rod McNicol's portraits give us a chance to look quietly at the human condition.

Michael Riley's portraits

4 mins

Linda Burney, Brenda Croft and Darrell Sibosado share memories of Michael Riley and his photographic practice.

William Bligh

by John Webber

2 minutes

Twice rebelled against, and twice vindicated, William Bligh occupies an ambivalent space in Australian history. Angus Trumble, former Director of the National Portrait Gallery, explains.

Marilyn Darling

by Anne Zahalka

2 minutes

Marilyn Darling talks about the creation of her portrait, and the photographic process.

Gordon Darling

by Jiawei Shen

2 minutes

Gordon Darling talks about how Jiawei Shen came to paint his portrait.

Aldo Giurgola

by Mandy Martin

2 minutes

Romaldo Giurgola talks about his portrait and the relationship between architecture and landscape.

Portrait of Cate Blanchett

by David Rosetzky

3 minutes

David Rosetzky and Cate Blanchett talk about the creation of their video portrait.

Robert Drewe

An interview with Nicholas Harding

3 minutes

Artist Nicholas Harding talks about what was captured in his portrait of Robert Drewe.

Nicholas Harding

'A portrait of Hugo Weaving'

3 minutes

Artist Nicholas Harding talks about how he became interested in portraiture, and his motivation in painting Hugo Weaving.

Akira Isogawa

Inside the patterns

4 minutes 18 seconds

Iconic Australian fashion designer, Akira Isogawa discusses the development of his unique style.

Kate Grenville

'The secret river'

6 minutes

Kate Grenville reads a passage from her novel The secret river and describes its creation.

Betty Churcher

'Blockbuster Betty'

3 minutes

Betty Churcher discusses her career as the Director of the National Gallery of Australia.

'The portraits of Captain Cook'

An interview with Betty Churcher

3 minutes

Betty Churcher describes the creation of the portrait of Captain James Cook in the National Portrait Gallery.

Kate Grenville

'Making Stories'

3 minutes

Australian writer Kate Grenville discusses her career and portrait by Jenny Sages.

Peter Sculthorpe

'Brings in the sun'

2 minutes

Legendary Australian composer, Peter Sculthorpe, describes the development of his career.

Mark Richards

No choice, you’re going surfing, son

7 minutes

Australian surfing legend Mark Richards describes his professional surfing and surfboard shaping careers.

Tom Carroll

6 minutes

Regarded as one of the greatest surfers of all time, Tom Carroll describes his career.

Bob Brown

In defence of the 'leech ridden ditch'

12 minutes

Bob Brown discusses the events that occurred during the Franklin River campaign as depicted in his portrait by Harold 'The Kangaroo' Thornton.

David Chalmers

'Consciousness, iPhones and philosophical zombies'

13 minutes

Professor David Chalmers explains his interest in philosophy and introduces some of his theories on the conscious mind.

Shane Maloney and Rick Amor

'Big canvas, small head'

8 minutes

Artist Rick Amor and author Shane Maloney relate divergent experiences of the creation of Shane's portrait.

Marcia Langton, Brook Andrew and Trent Walter

'A big idea'

12 minutes

Professor Marcia Langton, artist Brook Andrew and printer Trent Walter discuss the creation of Marcia's portrait.

The Hon. Michael Kirby AC CMG

'Radical Restraint'

5 minutes

The Hon. Michael Kirby AC CMG interviews the artist who painted his portrait, Ralph Heimans.

Professor Frank Fenner

'A White Shirt'

2 minutes

An interview with Professor Frank Fenner who describes his life and the creation of his portrait.

Nora Heysen

'This peaceful spot'

2 minutes

Australian artist, Nora Heysen, discusses her childhood and the development of her career.

Penny Sackett and Andrew Mezei

From Earth to Sky

5 minutes

Professor Penny Sackett and artist Andrew Mezei describe the process behind making the portrait.

Penny Sackett

From Earth to Sky

7 minutes

Professor Penny Sackett, Australian National University and former Chief Scientist for Australia (2008-2011) talks about her life in science.

Andrew Mezei

'From Earth to Sky'

4 minutes

Artist Andrew Mezei talks about his art practice and the process behind his portrait of Professor Penny Sackett. 

Professor Peter Doherty

'Not your stereotypical scientist'

2 minutes

Australian Nobel Prize winner, Professor Peter Doherty, provides some entertaining insights into his career and the science profession.

The Family

by Charles Blackman

2 minutes

Meredith McKinney, subject of Charles Blackman's 'The Family', recounts memories from her childhood and the creation of the portrait.

Kym Bonython

'The man and his cap'

2 minutes

Former National Portrait Gallery Director, Andrew Sayers, describes John Brack's portrait of Kym Bonython.

The Jester (Self Portrait) by Lionel Lindsay

'Comedy of Life'

2 minutes

A visual exploration of themes depicted in 'The Jester' by Lionel Lindsay.

Dame Elisabeth Murdoch

'Weaving the Dame'

2 minutes

An interview with Victorian Tapestry Workshop artists Sue Walker and Christopher Pyett.

Vali Myers

'A friend in a lift'

2 minutes

Interview with Vali Myers' friend, Dimmi, the lift-attendant at the Nicholas Building in Melbourne.

Captain Cook

'The photojournalists of their time'

2 minutes

An exploration of the role of artists such as John Webber who, whilst a member of Cook’s crew over many voyages, created paintings and drawings of the situations and people the explorers encountered.

Andy Thomas

'When I grow up I want to be an astronaut'

3 minutes

An interview with Australian astronaut, Dr. Andy Thomas, who describes the experience of space travel.

Chris O'Doherty (Reg Mombassa)

Self Portrait with spots and veins

2 minutes

An interview with iconic Australian artist, Chris O'Doherty (otherwise known as Reg Mombassa)

Joan Croll

2 minutes

An interview with the indomitable Joan Croll, subject of John Brack's portrait.

Political Cartooning

2 minutes

An interview with cartoonist Ron Tandberg about the tradition of caricature.

Young Mo (Roy Rene)

'The artist's notebook'

2 minutes

An interview with Australian artist and collector of quirky artefacts, Martin Sharp.

Walter Lindrum

'Wally and the game of billiards'

2 minutes

A portrait story exploring the life of Walter Lindrum, one of the greatest billiard players of all time.

Nancy Wake

'The White Mouse'

2 minutes

A portrait story describing the amazing life of World War II resistance fighter, Nancy Wake.

Dr John Yu

2 minutes

An interview with the acclaimed pediatrician Dr. John Yu who describes the process of having his portrait sculpture created by artist Ah Xian.

Sir Henry Barkly

2 minutes

An interview with former National Portrait Gallery Director, Andrew Sayers, who describes the portrait of Sir Henry Barkly by Thomas Clark.

Hugh Ramsay

'Letters from Paris'

2 minutes

Hugh Ramsay's letters were written while he was living in Paris to his family back in Australia.

Albert Namatjira

'You must not lose it'

2 minutes

The art and landscape of Albert Namatjira.

Patrick White by William Yang

2 minutes

An interview with photographer William Yang who recalls his encounters with the author Patrick White.

Martin Sharp by Garry Shead

2 minutes

Artists Garry Shead and Martin Sharp recount their friendship and the creation of Martin's portrait.

Tim Winton

'I am at the beach'

2 minutes

A series of excepts from Tim Winton's novel 'The Land's Edge'.

Don Bradman

The creation of 'Our Don'

2 minutes

A portrait story that explores the life and times of legendary Australian cricketer Sir Donald Bradman.

Chrissy Amphlett

'I was never submissive'

2 minutes

An interview with the iconic Australian rocker Chrissy Amphlett.

Michael Hutchence by Harry Borden

2 minutes

An interview with photographer Harry Borden about his portrait of Michael Hutchence.

Deborah Mailman by Evert Ploeg

2 minutes

An interview with artist Evert Ploeg about his portrait of the Australian actor Deborah Mailman.

Adam Scott by Robin Sellick

1 minute

An interview with photographer Robin Sellick about his portrait of golfing champion Adam Scott.

David Campese by Paul Newton

2 minutes

An interview with Paul Newton, the creator of the portrait of rugby legend David Campese.

George Lambert

'Self Portrait with Gladioli'

1 minute

An examination of the life and times of George Lambert through the gesture and pose in his self portrait. 

Nick Cave by Howard Arkley

2 minutes

An interview with graffiti artist Marc de Jong about the art of Howard Arkley.

Douglas Frew Waterhouse

'A bug in the hand'

2 minutes

Australian entomologist and inventer of the Aerogard insect repellent, Douglas Frew Waterhouse describes the evolution of his career.

Princess Mary

2 minutes

Artist Jiawei Shen describes the symbolism in his portrait of HRH Crown Princess Mary of Denmark.

Practising the Minuet

'Who was Hilda Spong?'

2 minutes

Broadway star Miss Hilda Spong was painted by Tom Roberts in 1893.

Bee Miles

'Eccentricity'

2 minutes

An exploration of Bee Miles' defining characteristic.

Nat Young

'How to be a surfing legend'

2 minutes

Albert Falzon's photograph of Australian surfer Nat Young captures what it is to be a surfing hero.