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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.

Fighting Spirit

The Art of Boxing

Touring exhibition
1 Boxing for Palm Island (Selwyn), 2010 photo by Hamish Cairns. Courtesy Pursekey Production. NFSA Collection. 2 The Sands Brothers, c. 1940s an unknown artist.

Fighting Spirit: The Art of Boxing is the story of boxing in Australia told through art and screen. This touring exhibition captures the strength and determination of key figures in the Australian boxing world and reflects the influence the sport has had on Australian society and culture.

Showcasing rarely seen footage, paintings and photographs from the collections of both the National Film and Sound Archive and the National Portrait Gallery, this vibrant exhibition illuminates the long history of boxing in Australia from the 1890s to today, presenting the discipline as a form of sport, public spectacle and cultural and community connection. Traversing the themes of glory, bravado, identity, resilience and social change, Fighting Spirit: The Art of Boxing explores the mythos of boxing, providing glimpses into heartfelt moments of endurance and courage.

This exhibition is supported by the National Collecting Institutions Touring and Outreach Program, an Australian Government program aiming to improve access to the national collections for all Australians.

© National Portrait Gallery 2025
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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