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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.

20/20

20/20 commissioned portraits

20/20

Celebrating twenty years with twenty new portrait commissions

Previous exhibition
from Saturday 20 October 2018 until Sunday 10 February 2019

20/20 showcases the suite of arresting new portraits commissioned to celebrate the National Portrait Gallery’s twentieth year. Portrait subjects – leaders and individualists invited by the Gallery – have been judiciously matched with artists, a synergy leading to the creation of distinctive contemporary artworks encompassing a variety of techniques and approaches to portraiture.

As with the portraits purchased and donated to the Gallery, the subject of each commissioned portrait is an Australian who is recognised for the notable contributions they have made to society, across a range of fields. Since the National Portrait Gallery’s foundation in 1998, over 50 portraits have entered the collection through the commissioning program.

The 20 new portraits displayed here emphasise the Gallery’s ongoing commitment to commissioning contemporary portraits, and the unique relationship between sitter and artist. The significant support of donors has assisted the realisation of these portraits.

Related people

Dr Christopher Chapman (curator)

© 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