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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

Monday 29 January 2024 – Tuesday 28 January 2025

Hugh Jackman
Hugh Jackman
Hugh Jackman
Hugh Jackman

Collection Highlights Tour

2:15pm, Daily

Join us in the Gallery for this free 30-minute tour of the collection, exploring portrait stories and the history of the building.

Bookings optional
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.

Mary Chomley
Mary Chomley
Mary Chomley
Mary Chomley

The Cosmopolitans

In Gallery Two

Exhibition closes 31 March

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.

An Afternoon (Aunty Jenny Munro at the Redfern Aboriginal Tent Embassy)
An Afternoon (Aunty Jenny Munro at the Redfern Aboriginal Tent Embassy)
An Afternoon (Aunty Jenny Munro at the Redfern Aboriginal Tent Embassy)
An Afternoon (Aunty Jenny Munro at the Redfern Aboriginal Tent Embassy)

This is my place

In Gallery Four

Exhibition closes 21 April

We all have places where we feel at ease, a sense of belonging, of ownership, of relaxation, of self. Given the opportunity, portraitists love to place their sitters in an environment where they are most at home.

Self portrait
Self portrait
Self portrait
Self portrait

Self portrait: Myself and I

In Gallery Five

Exhibition closes 3 March

Encompassing works created over the past 80 years, this selection of portraits from the Gallery’s collection celebrates inventiveness and diversity in approaches to self portraiture.

Cathy Freeman
Cathy Freeman
Cathy Freeman
Cathy Freeman

Frocked up

In Gallery Six

Exhibition closes 17 March

The selection of works in Frocked up richly demonstrates the interconnectedness of costume and portraiture – and the many ways in which artists have employed the representation of dress to powerful, insightful effect.

Family Space
Family Space
Family Space
Family Space

Art Play Space

10:00am, Daily until Tue 30 Jan

Drop in to the family space these school holidays for free creative activities to enjoy together.

Self portrait with gladioli
Self portrait with gladioli
Self portrait with gladioli
Self portrait with gladioli

Virtual Highlight Tour

Oh George

12:30pm, Tue 6 Feb
Live online

Join our Senior Curator Joanna Gilmour as she explores the life of celebrated portraitist George Lambert. You’ll be glad(ioli) you did.

Bookings required
Wesley Enoch and David McAllister
Wesley Enoch and David McAllister
Wesley Enoch and David McAllister
Wesley Enoch and David McAllister

Virtual Highlight Tour

All the Lovers

12:30pm, Tue 13 Feb
Live online

Join us to get into the Valentine’s Day spirit! Maybe you’ll find a new love while exploring the portraits of some of Australia’s favourite power couples.

Bookings required
Susan Lord
Susan Lord
Susan Lord
Susan Lord

Virtual Highlight Tour

Styling Australia

12:30pm, Tue 20 Feb
Live online

From notions of propriety to celebrating our flora and fauna, join us as we look at what it means to get all frocked up in Australia.

Bookings required
Michelle de Kretser, Geography & History
Michelle de Kretser, Geography & History
Michelle de Kretser, Geography & History
Michelle de Kretser, Geography & History

Virtual Highlight Tour

Wonderful Wordsmiths

12:30pm, Tue 27 Feb
Live online

What do artists reveal or conceal about wonderful wordsmiths? This week we’re looking at the talented writers in our collection.

Bookings required
HRH Crown Princess Mary of Denmark, 2006 Ralph Heimans AM
HRH Crown Princess Mary of Denmark, 2006 Ralph Heimans AM
HRH Crown Princess Mary of Denmark, 2006 Ralph Heimans AM
HRH Crown Princess Mary of Denmark, 2006 Ralph Heimans AM

Ralph Heimans

Portraiture. Power. Influence.

Exhibition opens 15 March

The exhibition will feature some of the most significant portraits in the artist’s career to date, from early major works such as his painting of HRH Crown Princess Mary of Denmark through to his most recent.

More events

Wednesday 29 January 2025 – Thursday 29 January 2026
© 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