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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.

Live online

Sunday 19 May 2024 – Tuesday 19 May 2026

Explore the collection from the comfort of you loungeroom. Join us for free, interactive, virtual collection tours. Examine portraits in depth with Gallery Educators delivered via Zoom, and chat, comment and ask questions just like the IRL experience. Videos of selected previous events are available too.

Billy Hughes bottle stopper
Billy Hughes bottle stopper
Billy Hughes bottle stopper
Billy Hughes bottle stopper

Virtual Highlight Tour

Pottering with portraits

12:30pm, Tue 1 Oct
Live online

From glazed gazes to fired forms, potter about portraiture with us and discover an assortment of ceramic portraits from the National Portrait Collection.

Bookings required
Those trees came back to me in my dreams
Those trees came back to me in my dreams
Those trees came back to me in my dreams
Those trees came back to me in my dreams

Virtual Highlight Tour

Joan Ross: Those trees came back to me in my dreams

12:30pm, Tue 8 Oct
Live online

Join us for this very special tour of Joan Ross: Those trees came back to me in my dreams.

Bookings required
Habitat of monstera II (Self-portrait with yellow paisley jacket), 2023 Bahman Kermany
Habitat of monstera II (Self-portrait with yellow paisley jacket), 2023 Bahman Kermany
Habitat of monstera II (Self-portrait with yellow paisley jacket), 2023 Bahman Kermany
Habitat of monstera II (Self-portrait with yellow paisley jacket), 2023 Bahman Kermany

Virtual Highlight Tour

Staff favourites

12:30pm, Tue 15 Oct
Live online

Join us as our team share some of their favourite portraits in this year’s Darling Portrait Prize and National Photographic Portrait Prize.

Bookings required
Matt Finch, 2017 by Sue Olliver
Matt Finch, 2017 by Sue Olliver
Matt Finch, 2017 by Sue Olliver
Matt Finch, 2017 by Sue Olliver

Virtual Highlight Tour

Portraits of queer futurity

12:30pm, Tue 22 Oct
Live online

Join Matt Finch as he considers three portraits in the collection that offer different gateways to worlds beyond, blending past, present and future.

Bookings required
Helen Garner
Helen Garner
Helen Garner
Helen Garner

Virtual Highlight Tour

Through their eyes

12:30pm, Tue 29 Oct
Live online

This week, join Social Media & Content Coordinator Georgina Holt as she takes you through three contemplative portraits of Australians who have borne witness to some of the country’s, and the world’s, darkest moments.

Bookings required
Eagle Ross (Ross Wilson)
Eagle Ross (Ross Wilson)
Eagle Ross (Ross Wilson)
Eagle Ross (Ross Wilson)

Virtual Highlight Tour

Rock Revolution: 80s

12:30pm, Tue 5 Nov
Live online

Get ready to rock out with us this week as we journey through the epic world of Aussie rock legends from the 80s!

Bookings required
Kath Walker (Oodgeroo Noonuccal)
Kath Walker (Oodgeroo Noonuccal)
Kath Walker (Oodgeroo Noonuccal)
Kath Walker (Oodgeroo Noonuccal)

Virtual Highlight Tour

Prose and Pose: Noonuccal to Missy

12:30pm, Tue 12 Nov
Live online

Welcome lovers of verse! Explore the intersection of literature and art as we delve into the words and works of renowned Australian poets and songwriters immortalised in the National Portrait Collection.

Bookings required
William, Randwick
William, Randwick
William, Randwick
William, Randwick

Virtual Highlight Tour

Talking Trailblazers

12:30pm, Tue 19 Nov
Live online

Join Australian National University researcher Harry Kilcullen as they explore groundbreakers of queer art and culture in the National Portrait Collection.

Bookings required
Judith Wright with Barbara Blackman
Judith Wright with Barbara Blackman
Judith Wright with Barbara Blackman
Judith Wright with Barbara Blackman

Virtual Highlight Tour

Double portraits

12:30pm, Tue 26 Nov
Live online

Join us as we take a deep dive into the world of double portraits. What will this unique form of portraiture reveal about the sitters and the artists?

Bookings required

More events

Wednesday 20 May 2026 – Friday 19 May 2028
© National Portrait Gallery 2024
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