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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.

What's on

Saturday 27 August 2016 – Sunday 27 August 2017

Spencer 2016, by Warwick Baker
Spencer 2016, by Warwick Baker
Spencer 2016, by Warwick Baker
Spencer 2016, by Warwick Baker

Tough & Tender

Exhibition closes 16 October

Art by Warwick Baker, Chris Burden, Larry Clark, Rozalind Drummond, Nan Goldin, Robert Mapplethorpe and Collier Schorr explores personal relations, individual expression and fluid identity.

Divide (Self portrait)
Divide (Self portrait)
Divide (Self portrait)
Divide (Self portrait)

Dissections

Layered portraits from the collection

Exhibition closes 27 November

This display sets two impressive portraits from the collection into direct dialogue: Sam Jinks’ sculptural self portrait and Nick Mourtzakis’ painted portrait of David Chalmers, along with related maquette and sketches.Together they explore physical and psychological manifestations of the strata of self-hood.

Billie, 2016 by Graeme Drendel
Billie, 2016 by Graeme Drendel
Billie, 2016 by Graeme Drendel
Billie, 2016 by Graeme Drendel

The Popular Pet Show

Exhibition opens 4 November

This exhibition expresses the joy and warmth that many of us derive from our animal companions, and celebrates their trusting, unpretentious ways, with portraits of Australians and their furry, feathered and fluffy friends.

Bookings available
Charles, 2015 by Amiel Courtin-Wilson, video: 7 minutes
Charles, 2015 by Amiel Courtin-Wilson, video: 7 minutes
Charles, 2015 by Amiel Courtin-Wilson, video: 7 minutes
Charles, 2015 by Amiel Courtin-Wilson, video: 7 minutes

Digital Portraiture Award 2016

Exhibition opens 2 December

An annual event to extend traditional notions of portraiture and foster emerging artists with an interest in new technology.

Richard Morecroft & Alison Mackay
Richard Morecroft & Alison Mackay
Richard Morecroft & Alison Mackay
Richard Morecroft & Alison Mackay

National Photographic Portrait Prize 2017

Exhibition opens 1 April

The exhibition is selected from a national field of entries, reflecting the distinctive vision of Australia's aspiring and professional portrait photographers and the unique nature of their subjects.

Bookings available
Marcia Langton
Marcia Langton
Marcia Langton
Marcia Langton

Collection in focus: Brook Andrew

Exhibition opens 8 May

Experience the artistic clout of Brook Andrew’s portraits of Marcia Langton AM and Anthony Mundine.

Copeman, gardener, Great Yarmouth by John Dempsey
Copeman, gardener, Great Yarmouth by John Dempsey
Copeman, gardener, Great Yarmouth by John Dempsey
Copeman, gardener, Great Yarmouth by John Dempsey

Dempsey's people

A folio of British street portraits 1824–1844

Exhibition opens 29 June

Dempsey’s people: a folio of British street portraits 1824–1844 is the first exhibition to showcase the compelling watercolour images of English street people made by the itinerant English painter John Dempsey throughout the first half of the nineteenth century.

Bookings available

More events

Monday 28 August 2017 – Tuesday 28 August 2018
© National Portrait Gallery 2024
King Edward Terrace, Parkes
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