The artist's diary profiles six decades of Cassab's work, from the early portrait commissions of the 1950s to later paintings that have helped confirm her eminent place in the canon of Australian portraiture.
Judy Cassab is among Australia's most successful portrait painters. Since arriving in Sydney from Europe in 1951, she has created numerous portraits - those commissioned by corporate leaders and social luminaries along with personal and intimate portrayals of family and friends - which collectively have resulted in a distinct and comprehensive record of Australian society and culture throughout the second half of the 20th century.
Aimee Board traces Judy Cassab’s path to the Australian outback, arriving at the junction of inspiration and abstraction.
The oil portrait of Sir Frank Packer KBE by Judy Cassab was gifted to the National Portrait Gallery in 2006.
Open every day
The collection display includes a wide selection of portraits that tell extraordinary stories of encounter, exploration, independence, individuality and achievement in Australia. Visitors to the Gallery can follow the development of portraiture from oil painting to digital media.
Elvis at 21 is a photographic exhibition capturing Elvis’ rise to fame in the year 1956, before security and money built walls between him and his fans.
