Skip to main content
Menu

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.

PROMO

Portraits from prime time

Previous exhibition
from Saturday 22 March until Monday 9 June 2014

This exhibition goes behind-the-scenes and into the spotlight with professional photographers and the stars of Australian television, music and comedy.

Ryder Jack Susman in a Williamstown hairdresser by Abigail Varney
Ryder Jack Susman in a Williamstown hairdresser by Abigail Varney

PROMO: Portraits from prime time takes you behind-the-scenes and into the spotlight of the entertainment industry. Contemporary photographic portraiture shapes how we see the most recognisable Australians – comedians, musicians, presenters and actors. These images are usually absorbed in the split second between a page turn or a mouse click. Their creators reflect on the intense energy that generates an effortless and instantly satisfying portrait.

The eight photographers represent diverse styles, specialities and career paths. Abigail Varney is starting out with her photographs of up-and-coming comedians, musicians and actors in Melbourne. Peter Brew-Bevan and Martin Philbey each have twenty years in the industry, like John Tsiavis and Michelle Day, who both started their careers as on-set stills photographers. Julian Kingma began his career as a photographer with the Sunday Age before going freelance. Ben King was a camera assistant on film crews and Giovanni Lovisetto worked as an advertising producer in Europe; both now specialising in on-set stills photography.

8 portraits

1 Chris Lilley, Ja’mie, Private School Girl publicity, by John Tsiavis. 2 Samara and Morgan Weaving on location in Hunters Hill, by Peter Brew-Bevan. 3 Essie Davis, by Ben King. 4 Natalie Bassingthwaighte, by Peter Brew-Bevan. 5 Hamish Blake at home, by Abigail Varney. 6 Eddie Perfect, by John Tsiavis. 7 Josh Thomas, on-set still from Please Like Me series 1, by Giovanni Lovisetto.

Related people

Penelope Grist (curator)

Ernst & Young
© 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