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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

Wednesday 1 March – Friday 31 March 2023

Self portrait
Self portrait
Self portrait
Self portrait

The work of art

In Galleries Eight and Nine

Exhibition closes 23 May

It takes a village to raise a creative! Get an insight into the often-unseen work and supporters needed for the arts to thrive. The work of art documents the creative process, evoke states of creativity and inspiration, and shows us clues about the subject’s own work from the way artists portray them.

Hugh Jackman
Hugh Jackman
Hugh Jackman
Hugh Jackman

At ease

In Gallery One

Exhibition closes 27 August

Enjoy, sit back, and relax with some of our favourites from the Gallery’s collection, where they find themselves expertly – and comfortably – captured by their artists.

Play on (A portrait of Neale Daniher)
Play on (A portrait of Neale Daniher)
Play on (A portrait of Neale Daniher)
Play on (A portrait of Neale Daniher)

Collection Highlights Tour

11:15am, 2:15pm, Daily until Thu 9 Mar

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

Bookings available
Origami heart
Origami heart
Origami heart
Origami heart

Art Cart – WorldPride

Heart. Pride. Identity.

10:00am, Sat 4 Feb until Sun 5 Mar

Pop on your colourful kit and join us in the Gallery to celebrate WorldPride. Reflect on your identity and make a colourful flag or fold an origami pocket heart. This is a free activity for families, friends, anyone and everyone!

Screening

Creative Couples – Will and Garrett

10:00am, Fri 17 Feb until Sun 5 Mar

What makes creative couples tick? These short videos reveal an intimate portrait of the Huxleys, a unique couple whose romantic and creative lives intersect with chemistry, hard work, tension and magic.

Portrait of Patricia Piccinini
Portrait of Patricia Piccinini
Portrait of Patricia Piccinini
Portrait of Patricia Piccinini

Circle of Friends Spotlight Series

March

10:15am, Wed 1 Mar

Our Social Media and Content Coordinator, Georgina, will be taking a look at Patricia Piccinini by Allissa Oughtred.

Bookings required
Spirits Shapeshifting, 2023 Kate Beynon, Rali Beynon and Michael Pablo video: 30 seconds
Spirits Shapeshifting, 2023 Kate Beynon, Rali Beynon and Michael Pablo video: 30 seconds
Spirits Shapeshifting, 2023 Kate Beynon, Rali Beynon and Michael Pablo video: 30 seconds
Spirits Shapeshifting, 2023 Kate Beynon, Rali Beynon and Michael Pablo video: 30 seconds

Enlighten projections

Spirits Shapeshifting

8:00pm, Fri 3 Mar until Mon 13 Mar

Spirits Shapeshifting blends watercolour and digital animation to bring vibrant beings to life amid botanical dreamscapes, atmospheric skies and kaleidoscopic visions.

Matt Ottley, 2019 Jana Vodesil-Baruffi
Matt Ottley, 2019 Jana Vodesil-Baruffi
Matt Ottley, 2019 Jana Vodesil-Baruffi
Matt Ottley, 2019 Jana Vodesil-Baruffi

Screening and author Q&A

The Tree of Ecstasy and Unbearable Sadness (MA 15+)

2:00pm, Sat 4 Mar

Join us in the Gallery with award-winning artist, writer, composer and musician Matt Ottley for a screening of his latest work, The Tree of Ecstasy and Unbearable Sadness.

Bookings available
Ian Frazer
Ian Frazer
Ian Frazer
Ian Frazer

Virtual Highlights Tour

An opportunity taken

12:30pm, Tue 7 Mar
Live online

Join us as we celebrate science with a social conscious. We’ll be focusing on those in our collection who grabbed the opportunity to improve the quality of women’s health across the world.

Bookings required
Kaylene Whiskey in her studio, raising her arms in the air in celebration, next to a life size cutout of wonder woman and an artwork in progress
Kaylene Whiskey in her studio, raising her arms in the air in celebration, next to a life size cutout of wonder woman and an artwork in progress
Kaylene Whiskey in her studio, raising her arms in the air in celebration, next to a life size cutout of wonder woman and an artwork in progress
Kaylene Whiskey in her studio, raising her arms in the air in celebration, next to a life size cutout of wonder woman and an artwork in progress

Portrait 23: Identity Preview

Circle of Friends

2:00pm, Thu 9 Mar

We are beyond excited to invite our Circle of Friends members to an exclusive members-only preview of Portrait23: Identity.

Bookings required
Portrait23: Identity logo
Portrait23: Identity logo
Portrait23: Identity logo
Portrait23: Identity logo

Portrait23: Identity

Exhibition opens 10 March

Portraiture. Not as you know it. We invite you to stretch, push, resist and transcend portraiture’s conventional constraints.

Four works from Happy Australian, 2022 Vipoo Srivilasa
Four works from Happy Australian, 2022 Vipoo Srivilasa
Four works from Happy Australian, 2022 Vipoo Srivilasa
Four works from Happy Australian, 2022 Vipoo Srivilasa

Portrait 23: Identity tour

11:15am, Fri 10 Mar until Fri 16 Jun

Join us in the Gallery for a free 30-minute tour of Portrait23: Identity, as we stretch, push and transcend portraiture’s conventional constraints.

Bookings available
Play on (A portrait of Neale Daniher)
Play on (A portrait of Neale Daniher)
Play on (A portrait of Neale Daniher)
Play on (A portrait of Neale Daniher)

Collection Highlights Tour

2:15pm, Daily from Fri 10 Mar until Sun 31 Dec

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

Bookings available
Spirits Shapeshifting, 2023 Kate Beynon, Rali Beynon and Michael Pablo
Spirits Shapeshifting, 2023 Kate Beynon, Rali Beynon and Michael Pablo
Spirits Shapeshifting, 2023 Kate Beynon, Rali Beynon and Michael Pablo
Spirits Shapeshifting, 2023 Kate Beynon, Rali Beynon and Michael Pablo

Open late

Enlighten

5:00pm, Fri 10 Mar

Visit the Portrait Gallery after dark! We are keeping our doors open until 10:00pm to celebrate our latest exhibition Portrait23: Identity.

Amrita Hepi performing Faun
Amrita Hepi performing Faun
Amrita Hepi performing Faun
Amrita Hepi performing Faun

Performance lecture with Amrita Hepi

An Afternoon of a Faun

8:30pm, Fri 10 Mar

Join us for a special performance lecture commissioned for the Gallery's latest exhibition Portrait23: Identity.

Bookings required
A person with long hair being blown by the wind, wearing a blue dress, while leaning over the edge of a boat on the water
A person with long hair being blown by the wind, wearing a blue dress, while leaning over the edge of a boat on the water
A person with long hair being blown by the wind, wearing a blue dress, while leaning over the edge of a boat on the water
A person with long hair being blown by the wind, wearing a blue dress, while leaning over the edge of a boat on the water

Culture Cruise

Presented by Australian Dance Party

10:30am, Sat 11 Mar

Travel via lake cruise on the stunning Lake Burley Griffin to Canberra's premiere cultural destinations: The National Portrait Gallery and The National Museum of Australia.

Bookings required
Kate Beynon and Rali Beynon
Kate Beynon and Rali Beynon
Kate Beynon and Rali Beynon
Kate Beynon and Rali Beynon

Fantastic Faces Space with Kate Beynon

11:00am, 1:00pm, Sat 11 Mar

Bring your little ones and join artist Kate Beynon as she activates her Fantastic Faces Space! Kate has created 200 cushions with 31 colourful designs that you can arrange with her on the felt walls to create imaginative faces.

Amrita Hepi performing Faun
Amrita Hepi performing Faun
Amrita Hepi performing Faun
Amrita Hepi performing Faun

Performance lecture with Amrita Hepi

An Afternoon of a Faun

1:00pm, Sat 11 Mar

Join us for a special performance lecture commissioned for the Gallery's latest exhibition Portrait23: Identity.

Bookings required
Four works from Happy Australian, 2022 Vipoo Srivilasa
Four works from Happy Australian, 2022 Vipoo Srivilasa
Four works from Happy Australian, 2022 Vipoo Srivilasa
Four works from Happy Australian, 2022 Vipoo Srivilasa

Workshop

Handmade Eleganza Extravaganza Paper Doll with Vipoo Srivilasa!

2:00pm, Sat 11 Mar
Live online

Unleash your creative side and show the world your unique style with a handmade paper doll!

Bookings required
Christopher Bassi standing in an empty office next to a large yellow painting
Christopher Bassi standing in an empty office next to a large yellow painting
Christopher Bassi standing in an empty office next to a large yellow painting
Christopher Bassi standing in an empty office next to a large yellow painting

Virtual Highlights Tour

Portrait23: Identity – a Curator's intro

12:30pm, Tue 14 Mar
Live online

Join curators Penny Grist and Rebecca Ray for a look at some of the amazing artists in Portrait23: Identity! It’s portraiture, but not as you know it.

Bookings required
Lady [Hannah] Lloyd Jones
Lady [Hannah] Lloyd Jones
Lady [Hannah] Lloyd Jones
Lady [Hannah] Lloyd Jones

Circle of Friends Lecture Series

March

2:00pm, Wed 15 Mar

Starting off 2023 with a bang is Curator, Collection and Research, Joanna Gilmour, who'll be taking you on a deep dive into portraits by painter, Judy Cassab.

Bookings required
A person with long hair being blown by the wind, wearing a blue dress, while leaning over the edge of a boat on the water
A person with long hair being blown by the wind, wearing a blue dress, while leaning over the edge of a boat on the water
A person with long hair being blown by the wind, wearing a blue dress, while leaning over the edge of a boat on the water
A person with long hair being blown by the wind, wearing a blue dress, while leaning over the edge of a boat on the water

Culture Cruise

Presented by Australian Dance Party

10:30am, Sat 18 Mar

Travel via lake cruise on the stunning Lake Burley Griffin to Canberra's premiere cultural destinations: The National Portrait Gallery and The National Museum of Australia.

Bookings required
Rosemary Madigan
Rosemary Madigan
Rosemary Madigan
Rosemary Madigan

Virtual Highlights Tour

The artist’s studio

12:30pm, Tue 21 Mar
Live online

Pop on your smock and sturdy shoes and join us for a peek into where artists work. Whether inside, outside or out and about, we’ll look at the places they wield their tools and create.

Bookings required
Yarrenyty Arltere Artists installation
Yarrenyty Arltere Artists installation
Yarrenyty Arltere Artists installation
Yarrenyty Arltere Artists installation

Audio described tour

1:00pm, Wed 22 Mar

Join us in the Gallery as we explore Portrait23: Identity with audio descriptions for visitors who are blind or have low vision.

Bookings required
Twelve portraits of finalists for the Little Darlings Youth Portrait Prize 2023
Twelve portraits of finalists for the Little Darlings Youth Portrait Prize 2023
Twelve portraits of finalists for the Little Darlings Youth Portrait Prize 2023
Twelve portraits of finalists for the Little Darlings Youth Portrait Prize 2023

Little Darlings Youth Portrait Prize 2023

Exhibition opens 25 March

Little Darlings is for primary and secondary students, with four separate categories across Kindergarten to Year 12. Responding to the theme ‘identity’, students painted, drew, photographed, printed or combined all of these to make their portrait.

Marea Gazzard
Marea Gazzard
Marea Gazzard
Marea Gazzard

The Iconoclasts

In Gallery Three

Exhibition open every day

Australian portraiture of the mid-twentieth century was rich with the influence of European modernism, exemplified by the work of artists including Arthur Boyd, Judy Cassab and Clifton Pugh.

A person with long hair being blown by the wind, wearing a blue dress, while leaning over the edge of a boat on the water
A person with long hair being blown by the wind, wearing a blue dress, while leaning over the edge of a boat on the water
A person with long hair being blown by the wind, wearing a blue dress, while leaning over the edge of a boat on the water
A person with long hair being blown by the wind, wearing a blue dress, while leaning over the edge of a boat on the water

Culture Cruise

Presented by Australian Dance Party

10:30am, Sat 25 Mar

Travel via lake cruise on the stunning Lake Burley Griffin to Canberra's premiere cultural destinations: The National Portrait Gallery and The National Museum of Australia.

Bookings required
Self portrait
Self portrait
Self portrait
Self portrait

Virtual Highlight Tour

Dazzling Daughters

12:30pm, Tue 28 Mar
Live online

Pull up a virtual chair and join us as we look at four dazzling daughters from our permanent collection!

Bookings required
The family
The family
The family
The family

Little Faces

10:30am, Wed 29 Mar until Thu 30 Mar

This autumn, join a Learning Facilitator to look at the portrait “The Family” by Charles Blackman to explore ­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­colour, patterns and faces through movement, singing and crafty play.

Bookings required
The family
The family
The family
The family

Little Faces

9:30am, 10:30am, Fri 31 Mar

This autumn, join a Learning Facilitator to look at the portrait “The Family” by Charles Blackman to explore ­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­colour, patterns and faces through movement, singing and crafty play.

Bookings required

More events

Saturday 1 April – Monday 1 May 2023
© National Portrait Gallery 2023
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