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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.

Peel Reserve, 1970

Carol Jerrems

gelatin silver photograph on paper (image: 24.6cm x 16.7cm. frame: 58.5cm x 43.2cm)
Peel Reserve, 1970

Peel Reserve is an early example of Jerrems’ experimental approach to image composition, with a triangulation of bodies and gazes structuring the scene. Two bare-chested youths bow their torsos towards each other but look beyond the frame, while only the smaller, seated figure in the background connects directly with the photographer.

In 1970, Melbourne’s inner suburbs were developing into sites of countercultural experimentation. As a 20-year-old in her final year studying photography, Jerrems was navigating her way within this milieu, making friends, sharing ideas and capturing them on film.

National Gallery of Australia, Canberra. Gift of Mrs Joy Jerrems 1981.
© The Estate of Carol Jerrems

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Carol Jerrems: Portraits

Previous exhibition, 2024

Carol Jerrems: Portraits is a major exhibition of one of Australia’s most influential photographers. Jerrems’ intimate portraits of friends, lovers and artistic peers transcend the purely personal and have come to shape Australian visual culture.
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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.

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