Celebrate the people, places and sounds of Australian pub rock and its enduring impact on our nation’s identity.

The collection display includes a wide selection of portraits that tell extraordinary stories of encounter, exploration, independence, individuality and achievement in Australia.

Revealing the backstories behind the NPG collection, Before hand features interviews with artists and sitters as well as working drawings, scrapbooks, sketches and footage taken in artists’ studios and out on location.

Harriet Schwarzrock’s new work explores notions of emotional processes and their physical manifestations.

Reconnect and reflect with our new major exhibition, Australian Love Stories (in real life!) as we explore love, affection and connection in all its guises.

That’s a different name? Yep! Acknowledging how extraordinary 2020 has been, we've decided to mix it up a little and title the exhibition, ‘Living Memory: National Photographic Portrait Prize’.

An educational and fun 14-day adults’ introduction to portraiture.

All visitors must pre-book for one of the daily sessions. Each day will have a limited number of people allowed.

Lust and longing, drama and devotion, seduction and scandal! Delve into an enticing array of tales of the heart.

In their own words is an audio-guide with a difference. We let the portraits of these remarkable Australians speak for themselves.

In these uncertain times, with physical gatherings restricted, we can all still recall major events such as the bogong moth migration, and remain connected to each other through nature.

Take a 30 minute tour of the Portrait Gallery exploring the collection and the building.

Take a 30 minute tour of the exhibition.

A space for families to mimic, reflect and explore. For all ages and abilities.

QL2 Director Ruth Osborne, working in close collaboration with seven recent tertiary dance graduates, brings you a performance that will move through the three themes to explore creative spaces, connection to landscape and their collective story.

Join us on online for a reading of Alison Lester’s Magic Beach followed by a chance to create your own visual response with items at home.

Delve into the lives, loves and labour of the world’s most prominent portrait galleries in this international conversation series.

Join us as we chat with specialists (and no doubt patient humans) from Endangered Heritage to hear about the curious processes involved in restoring and conserving art objects.

You’d be forgiven for thinking that summer was all about cricket, so prepare to be bowled over as we celebrate our warmest season with a look at a variety of portraits from the most sun-baked to the cool and quirky.

Think you know your Aussie pub rock? Then join us in the Gallery for a night of music mayhem!

Ben Quilty talks about portraiture as ‘a recording of a moment that reflects the sharing of a story.’

Photo-media artist Anne Zahalka has been exhibiting since the early 80s. Join us (and Anne!) as we look at a few of her works in the collection and chat about her principles and practice.

Join Penny Grist, Curator Exhibitions in conversation with Evert Ploeg and eX de Medici, two of Australia’s best-loved artist.

Following on from our popular virtual tour reflecting on how people with a disability have been represented in portraiture, join us online as we look at works from the collection and contemplate inclusivity with a focus on the artists.

Can you believe there are over 100 portraits by photographer Greg Weight in the collection?! Join us as we talk all things portraiture with the prolific photographer himself.

Celebrate Norman Lindsay’s birthday with us as we explore the life and world behind the creator of this Australian children’s classic.

Join us as we ask the experts about the Bogongs, their migration, their role in our ecosystem, and much more.

Join us in the Gallery for an intimate drawing workshop with British-Australian artist Nicholas Harding.

Join us from wherever you are for an intimate, online drawing workshop with British-Australian artist Nicholas Harding.

Seeing faces in random information, physical distancing and the human heart – take an intriguing three dimensional trip through the gallery.

Draw while listening to music. Be swept away in the moment and let colour become your instruments, line become your melody and create your own visual composition.

Discover some of the artists, architects, and activists who have travelled far and wide and yet call Canberra home.

Delve into the lives, loves and labour of the world’s most prominent portrait galleries in this international conversation series.

Lindy Morrison has played in her share of bands over the years. From jazz to pop to punk, she’s been an ever-present force in Australian music.

Join us on the red carpet to meet some of Australia’s fashion stars, known not just for striking poses, but also for their striking stories. 

Is love all you really need? If so, what kind of love? Join us for an exhilarating look at love in all its guises – from lust and longing, drama and devotion, to seduction and scandal.

Join us as we navigate through portraits of those who’ve explored, adventured and endured the challenges of traversing on and off our planet.

Join Australian Poetry Slam Champion CJ Bowerbird and some of Canberra’s best spoken word artists in an evening of poetry, performance and love.

Be uplifted by the glorious sounds of the Clarion vocal ensemble, directed by Tobias Cole.

From Heide to the outback, take a closer look at some of the artist communities celebrated in our exciting new exhibition, Australian Love Stories.

Draw while listening to music. Be swept away in the moment and let colour become your instruments, line become your melody and create your own visual composition.

Rush in and slow down for Slow Art Day. This global event has a simple mission: help more people discover the joy of looking at and loving art.

Hello cool cats! Join us as we make a beeline for the feline and explore works featuring furry faces (and their human friends/slaves).

Follow the wind and desert sands into the wilderness. Join us in the Gallery to listen to The story of Rosy Dock by Jeannie Baker and then create your own visual response.

Follow the wind and desert sands into the wilderness. Can’t come to us? Join us online for a reading of Jeannie Baker’s The story of Rosy Dock and then create your own visual response with items at home.

Explore the main collection before our usual opening hours. We welcome anyone of any age who would benefit from a more relaxed gallery experience.

Mirror as a noun: any reflecting surface. Person as a mirror... let’s reflect on that! Join us as we look into the faces of others who might show us something about ourselves.

Join us on a journey that talks to our national identity in times of war.

Spooky Men’s Chorale singing words of affirmation.

Join artist Ellis Hutch in the Gallery for a hands-on workshop with a nod to the ancient art of relief carving.

Join artist Ellis Hutch from wherever you are for a hands-on workshop with a nod to the ancient art of relief carving.

Draw while listening to music. Be swept away in the moment and let colour become your instruments, line become your melody and create your own visual composition.

Listen in and feel the love with our tour for visitors who are blind or have low vision.

Join comedian Chris Ryan as she hosts a night of ‘speed dating’ with a twist!

To celebrate Reconciliation Week, our highlights tours will focus on some remarkable, resilient and  inspirational Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in the collection.

Embrace your creativity and make a thing of joy for them with craft-based designer Kitiya Palaskas.

Performance artist Weizen Ho interprets the love language of physical touch.