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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.

Art Handlers' Award 2016

The winner of our Art Handlers' Award receives $1000 and free return transport for their photograph, courtesy of International Art Services.

National Photographic Portrait Prize 2016 Art Handlers' Award
Video: 15 seconds

Tara James and Amelia Mollett are the National Portrait Gallery's resident Art Handlers.  Together, 'Tamelia' as they are affectionately known, are responsible for the safe movement of every portrait in the Gallery's collection along with installation, display and assisting with touring exhibitions.  They have worked on the National Photographic Portrait Prize for many years and always enjoy inspecting the finalists' portraits as they arrive.

This year, thanks to the support of our friends at International Art Services, we are awarding an Art Handlers' Award of $1000 and free return transport for the artwork to the portrait that Tara and Amelia find the most striking.

But first they had to narrow it down to just one...

And the winner is: On Albatross Island, 2015 by Matthew Newton

“We were drawn to the mimicry of the human/bird body shapes & the repeated patterns of limbs echoing wings & the crouched protectiveness of both bodies. Also the profile repetition of both bowed heads highlighted by a moody skyline & the natural texture of the rocks. We loved the subtle reference to our changing awareness of environmental issues & interconnectedness of humans, animal & nature."

Video transcript

2 portraits

1 On Albatross Island, 2015 by Matthew Newton. 2 'Tamelia' by Tony Curran.
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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 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