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.

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.

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

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

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

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

Spanning the 1880s to the 1930s, this collection display celebrates the innovations in art – and life – introduced by the generation of Australians who travelled to London and Paris for experience and inspiration in the decades either side of 1900.

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

Put down the drop sheet and join us from your living room, as we dive deep into the minds behind loud colours, bold patterns and bright interiors.

We're back on again in April for the next of our Spotlight Series! This time Karena – our Exhibitions Manager – will be taking a look at Dr Joseph Brown with Two Typists by Noel McKenna.

Our popular art cart is back for the school holidays! Ponder your place in the world and reflect on your own identity by making your own ‘me tree’.

Draw while listening to Bella Groove as they play an assortment of originals alongside familiar jazz and blues tunes.

Explore portraits through drawing and creative activity in the galleries.

What’s all the fuss about? Grab a cuppa and join us as we look at three sitters in our collection who have, unwittingly or deliberately, created storms in teacups.

Rush in, slow down and take a looong look at a few portraits, then meet to share your thoughts and observations.

Join acclaimed Yarrenyty Arltere Artists who live and work in Mparntwe/Alice Springs in a creative walk-up sewing workshop.

Explore portraits through drawing and creative activity in the galleries.

Awaken a sense of place and belonging and explore the National Portrait Gallery building and discover the award-winning design elements and cultural significance.

Grab your rucksack and join our Collection Administrator, Renee Joyce to explore the role of place in providing portraiture’s context and narrative.

Join Maxine Beneba Clarke as she reads her book Fashionista, leads us in craft activities and finishes in a flurry with a fashion parade finale!

Calling all fashionistas, fashion-resisters, fun lovers, fun makers and cool creators! Join Maxine Beneba Clarke as she reads her book Fashionista, leads us in craft activities and finishes in a flurry with a fashion face-off finale!

Explore our special exhibition Portrait23: Identity and the main collection before our usual opening hours. We’ll have low sensory spaces, quiet areas and a creative activity for families to enjoy together.

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.

This year’s lecture will be delivered by Stephen Page AO, former Artistic Director of Bangarra Dance Theatre and descendent of the Ngugi/Nunukul people of the Quandamooka Nation and the Munaldjali clan of the Yugambeh Nation from South East Queensland.

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.

Join a Portrait23: Identity conversation during May! This week artists Mark Smith and Ross Coulter discuss their artworks, processes and influences with curator Penny Grist.

Ponder your place in the world and reflect on your own identity by making your own ‘me tree’.

Our monthly Circle of Friends get-together, this time with our Visitor Services Coordinator Marina, taking a look at the portait of John Mawurndjul by R. Ian Lloyd.

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

Listen along to Rhythm Syndicate’s musical offering of high energy jazz classics.

Ausdance ACT will be in the Gallery during Australian Dance Week to enhance your Portrait 23: Identity exhibition experience!

Stretch out and sit back as artist Taryn Gill discusses her artwork, process and influence with First Nations Curator Rebecca Ray.

Bring the family of your choice and celebrate Mother’s and Other’s Day.

Join us for a day trip to see the finalists of the Archibald, Wynne and Sulman Prizes at the Art Gallery of NSW.

Are you a super sewer / embroider extraordinaire / confident crafter? Then why not join us in the Gallery for a sewing circle with artist Deborah Kelly!

Are you a super sewer / embroider extraordinaire / confident crafter? Then why not join us in the Gallery for a sewing circle with artist Deborah Kelly!

Artist Nell will be visiting us to chat about her work in Portrait23: Identity.

Pop on your finest as we walk you through Portrait23: Identity. Yes that’s right, we’re streaming live from inside the gallery spaces!

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.

Fluff your mullet, squeeze into your jeans and join our Director Collection and Exhibitions Sandra Bruce, musician and producer Paul Greene, and musician George Bishop of El Horses fame for a local beer garden chat about this loud and sweaty exhibition.

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.

Join us for Alter Ego: An Evening of Other! This 18+ late-night event is curated and produced by Kat Dopper of Heaps Gay, Queer Agency and Summer Camp Festival fame.

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

Writer Yves Rees discusses Voice Notes – their Portrait23: Identity catalogue essay about gender, voice and trans identity.

In partnership with Big hART we are proud to present Gulgawarnigu - Thinking of something, someone, a national presentation of digital artworks created from Ngarluma country leramagadu (Roebourne), in the Pilbara region of Western Australia.

In this hands-on workshop with Alison, discover more about her work as she teaches you the process of screen printing to create a portrait of someone who inspires you.

Join us as we celebrate Reconciliation Week with a focus on the stories and portraits of the fabulous First Nations faces of Robert Fielding, Jessica Mauboy, Heath Bergerson and Jack Charles.

Our Senior Curator, Joanna, will be taking a look at the portrait of Mary Chomley by Violet Teague.

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

Draw while listening to Mitzy, Iska & Nyssa as they play classic pop inspired by the hit TV show Bridgerton.

Join us as we explore the (sometimes cheeky) portraits of Barry Humphries, and all reflect on the art, life and humour of this Australian legend.

Join Joanna Gilmour, one of this years judges for your members exclusive preview and be the first to see the photographs selected as this year’s finalists.

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.

Join us in the Gallery to hear from the National Photographic Portrait Prize 2023 judges Tamara Dean, Daniel Boetker-Smith, and our very own Joanna Gilmour, as they discuss the artworks and themes in this year’s Prize.

Join award-winning photographer Kris Anderson as he talks about his creative process, and reveals techniques you can use for your own work.

Join us in the Gallery for this free 30-minute tour of the 2023 National Photographic Portrait Prize to hear more about the artist’s vision and stories of their subjects.

Get warm, cosy and creative with us this winter! Drop-in any time with family and friends for free craft activities.

Join Senior Curator and NPPP 2023 judge, Joanna Gilmour for a peek at some of this year’s artworks in the National Photographic Portrait Prize 2023.

Join us as we celebrate Pride Month with poet Peter Sipeli and visual artist Kirikiti Juna, as they talk about life and portraits from their uniquely Fijian LGBTIQA+ perspective.

Little Faces is for babies and toddlers (with their grown up) to play, sing and have fun discovering a portrait together.

Little Faces is for babies and toddlers (with their grown up) to play, sing and have fun discovering a portrait together.

Similar to, and yet quite unlike Franz Schubert's great song cycle "Winterreise", the programme follows the imagined path of a young man.

Through looking, playing and creating, go on a journey of speculation as we explore a variety of portraits and wonder what their stories could be.

Join 2022 and 2023 National Photographic Portrait Prize finalist Jacob Nash as he discusses portraiture through the lens of this year’s NAIDOC theme, For Our Elders.

Come one, come all! Book in (see what we did there?) for an immersive story time with us and celebrate NAIDOC week!

Come one, come all and celebrate NAIDOC week! Book in (see what we did there?) for an Auslan-interpreted story time with us!

Draw while listening to Larissa Kovalchuk as they play an assortment of vocal and instrumental music from different eras.

While the 2022 National Photographic Portrait Prize visits Lilydale in VIC, catch Yarra Ranges Regional Museum curator Maddie Reece as they speak to finalists Ayman Kaake and Joey Chan about photography, portraits and their art practice.

Calling all teenagers 13+! Join internationally awarded animators, artists and musicians Eleanor and Giovanni for a fun hands-on workshop!

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

Celebrate NAIDOC with First Nations portraiture during a live National Portrait Gallery program.

Read the bottom line for me. Better or worse? Better or worse? Join us for a lively tour as we focus on (ay, see what we did there?) some of our bespectacled beings in the collection.

Teachers – celebrate First Nations stories with version 9.0 of the F-10 Australian curriculum. Explore the visual arts collections from leading collections at the National Portrait Gallery and National Gallery of Australia.

Join us in the Gallery as we explore artworks with audio descriptions for visitors who are blind or have low vision. Sighted companions and guide dogs are more than welcome.

Did someone say, ‘art workshop with an Archibald winner?!’ Woo! Join Yvette Coppersmith from wherever you are for a drawing session using a range of works from the collection.

Can you believe it’s been 40 years since the High Court decision to save the Franklin river?! Grab your paddle and join us as we explore the portraits connected to this beautiful lutruwita/Tassie waterway.

Little Faces is for babies and toddlers (with their grown up) to play, sing and have fun discovering a portrait together.

Little Faces is for babies and toddlers (with their grown up) to play, sing and have fun discovering a portrait together.

Little Faces is for babies and toddlers (with their grown up) to play, sing and have fun discovering a portrait together.

Visionary Writer, Director and Actor Leah Purcell brings to life her powerful reimagining of Henry Lawson’s classic Australian short story.

Whether you’re a whiz with yarn or just discovering the joy of craft, drop in the Gallery and take part in a community art project to crochet, wrap, knit or knot your way to a healthier brain.

Fire up those neurons this winter and make no-knit neurons with Neural Knitworks artist Pat Pillai and textile artist Rita Pearce.

The ultimate battle! Join us with artist Jess Herrington for a workshop like no other.