National Portrait Gallery

2019 rectification work

We’ll be closing our doors for a little while for rectification work from 23 April until August 2019, but you’ll still be able to check out a raft of travelling exhibitions, exciting programs and happy snaps as we set off on an actual and virtual adventure.

Browse the collection

Portraits of people who have influenced and contributed to the shaping of Australian society.

Mirawarri art cart

Monday 1 April 2019
until Monday 22 April 2019

11:00am – 4:00pm

Free activities for families to enjoy together. Create a #deadlyselfie with ‘Mirawarri’, a Walpiri Indigenous selfie and digital image-making app developed by the Warnayaka Art Centre with Gretta Louw and Sneakaway Studio.

Drawn in

Carl St. Jacques on viola

Sunday 21 April 2019

1:00 – 3:00pm

Draw while listening to music. All materials provided; all ages and abilities.

Virtual tour

Monday 20 May 2019

11:30am – 12:00pm; 2:30 – 3:00pm

Stay in the comfort of your own home and join us – virtually – on a live highlights tour. Ask questions, see the collection and hear some of the stories behind the portraits.

Bookings required

More events

Portrait 61

Summer 2018/19

Max Dupain's unknown portrait subjects, phrenologist Madame Sibly, Indigenous-European relationships, Thomas Gainsborough and more.

More Portrait magazines

All the stories, in your hands

Try our new iOS app

Wherever you are, the app is a great way to explore our collection.

Portrait Gallery Shop

Open 10am – 5pm

The Portrait Gallery's own products as well as books, designer jewellery, ceramics and textiles, stationery and intelligent toys.

Portrait Gallery Café

Open 9.00am – 4.30pm

Unwind and enjoy freshly prepared foods to suit all tastes and dietary requirements.

Phuoc Tuy Province, South Vietnam, 15 Jan 1969 by David Combe

Peaceful front

by David Gist, 13 March 2019

‘Is this one of yours?’ David Combe still remembers reading the letter from his father in early 1969. Like every soldier serving in Vietnam, he valued any missive from home.

More assortments

"Police" Lieut. Colonel Edmund Yeamans Walcott Henderson (Image plate from Vanity Fair), 1875 by Carlo Pellegrini

Born on this day

Lieut. Col. Edmund Henderson C.B.

More portrait anniversaries

Introducing a new painting prize for 2019

The Darling Prize is a new annual prize for Australian portrait painters, painting Australian sitters. The winner receives a cash prize of $75,000.

Education

Information for educators, education tour companies and school groups across all levels.

Portrait of Heidi Middleton and Sarah-Jane Clarke (Sass & Bide), 2008 by Deborah Paauwe

Circle of Friends membership

Enjoy all the benefits of belonging to this vibrant, creative gallery!

Venue hire

Hold your event in one of our gorgeous spaces, day or evening.

About the Gallery

All about our history, building, employment and governance.

Support portraiture

We depend on your support to keep creating our programs, exhibitions, publications and building collection.

Tweets by @PortraitAu

View this post on Instagram

Happy Museum Selfie Day! 🤳 Some of our friends have joined in the party, doing their best to #serveface and #findyourlight Flip your camera and take a selfie in the NPG—be sure to tag us in the photo and we’ll share them in our stories! #npgselfie . . . PORTRAITS: Carl Cooper, 1945-46 by Arthur Boyd Helena Rubinstein in a red brocade Balenciaga gown, 1957 by Graham Sutherland Sir Charles Lloyd Jones, 1951 by William Dobell Dame Mary Gilmore, c. 1938 by Lyall Trindall Portrait of Florence Broadhurst, 1968 by Joshua Smith Sir Donald Bradman, 1990 by Bill Leak HV (Doc) Evatt, 1935 by Arnold Shore Sidney Myer, 1936 by Paul Montford Roslyn, 2016 by Sally Ross #museumselfieday #museumselfieday2019 #arthurboyd #grahamsutherland #williamdobell #lyalltrindall #joshuasmith #billleak #arnoldshore #paulmontford #sallyross #carlcooper #helenarubinstein #sircharleslloydjones #damemarygilmore #florencebroadhurst #sirdonaldbradman #herbertvereevatt #roslynoxley #portraitau #selfie #selfportrait #helpinghand #notsponsoredbyapple #nationalportraitgallery #🤳

A post shared by National Portrait Gallery, Aus (@portraitau) on Jan 15, 2019 at 3:24pm PST

Tweets by @PortraitAu