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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.

Making Portraits

Five Years of National Portrait Gallery Commissions

The considered matching of artist to subject has produced an amazing collection of unique and original works in the permanent collection of the National Portrait Gallery

More information on Making Portraits

Selected images

34 images
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Johnny O'Keefe
Johnny O'Keefe "A little bit louder now...", 1999 Ivan Durrant. © Ivan Durrant/Copyright Agency, 2022
Andy Thomas
Andy Thomas, 2002 Montalbetti + Campbell. © Montalbetti & Campbell
Cathy Freeman
Cathy Freeman, 1999 Kerrie Lester. © Kerrie Lester/Copyright Agency, 2023
John Howard and Janette Howard
John Howard and Janette Howard, 2000 Josonia Palaitis. © Josonia Palaitis/Copyright Agency, 2022
Mark Taylor
Mark Taylor, 1999 Bill Leak. © Estate of Bill Leak
Nick Cave
Nick Cave, 1999 Howard Arkley. © Estate of Howard Arkley. Licensed by Kalli Rolfe Contemporary Art.
Simone Young
Simone Young, 2002 Bill Henson. © Bill Henson
Portrait of Dame Elisabeth Murdoch
Portrait of Dame Elisabeth Murdoch, 2000 Australian Tapestry Workshop, Merrill Dumbrell, Christopher Pyett, Normana Wight. © Australian Tapestry Workshop
Preparatory study for the portrait of Leo Schofield No.1
Preparatory study for the portrait of Leo Schofield No.1, 2001 Brent Harris. © Brent Harris
Full-size preparatory study for the portrait of Leo Schofield
Full-size preparatory study for the portrait of Leo Schofield, 2001 Brent Harris. © Brent Harris
Leo Schofield
Leo Schofield, 2001 Brent Harris. © Brent Harris
Imelda Roche
Imelda Roche, 2003 Paul Newton. © Paul Newton
Preparatory study for Betty Cuthbert
Preparatory study for Betty Cuthbert, 2002 Andrew Daly. © Andrew Daly
Preparatory study for Betty Cuthbert
Preparatory study for Betty Cuthbert, 2002 Andrew Daly. © Andrew Daly
Preparatory study for Betty Cuthbert
Preparatory study for Betty Cuthbert, 2002 Andrew Daly. © Andrew Daly
General Eva Burrows AC AO
General Eva Burrows AC AO, 2001 Gabrielle Martin. © Commonwealth of Australia
Preparatory study for General Eva Burrows AC AO
Preparatory study for General Eva Burrows AC AO, 2001 Gabrielle Martin. © Commonwealth of Australia
Preparatory study for General Eva Burrows AC AO
Preparatory study for General Eva Burrows AC AO, 2001 Gabrielle Martin. © Commonwealth of Australia
Preparatory study for General Eva Burrows AC AO
Preparatory study for General Eva Burrows AC AO, 2001 Gabrielle Martin. © Commonwealth of Australia
Betty Cuthbert
Betty Cuthbert, 2002 Andrew Daly. © Andrew Daly
Professor Peter Doherty
Professor Peter Doherty, 2001 Rick Amor. © Rick Amor/Copyright Agency, 2022
Clifford Possum Tjapaltjarri
Clifford Possum Tjapaltjarri, 2002 Tim Johnson. © Tim Johnson
Portrait of Elizabeth Jolley
Portrait of Elizabeth Jolley, 2003 Mary Moore. © Mary Moore
Preparatory study for the portrait of the Hon Tom Hughes KC
Preparatory study for the portrait of the Hon Tom Hughes KC, 2001 Jiawei Shen. © Jiawei Shen
Hon Tom Hughes KC
Hon Tom Hughes KC, 2001 Jiawei Shen. © Jiawei Shen
Preparatory study of Tom Hughes
Preparatory study of Tom Hughes, 2003 Jiawei Shen. © Jiawei Shen
Test #4 Broadhead and Wing Pattern: Preparatory study for 'Nothing's as precious as a hole in the ground'
Test #4 Broadhead and Wing Pattern: Preparatory study for 'Nothing's as precious as a hole in the ground', 2001 eX de Medici. © eX de Medici
Test #2 Ranger 3 Pit Mine Kakadu, N.T.: Preparatory study for 'Nothing's as precious as a hole in the ground'
Test #2 Ranger 3 Pit Mine Kakadu, N.T.: Preparatory study for 'Nothing's as precious as a hole in the ground', 2001 eX de Medici. © eX de Medici
Test #1 Ranger 3 Pit Mine Kakadu, N.T.: Preparatory study for 'Nothing's as precious as a hole in the ground'
Test #1 Ranger 3 Pit Mine Kakadu, N.T.: Preparatory study for 'Nothing's as precious as a hole in the ground', 2001 eX de Medici. © eX de Medici
Nothing's as precious as a hole in the ground
Nothing's as precious as a hole in the ground, 2001 eX de Medici. © eX de Medici
M.O. Ranger 3: Preparatory study for 'Nothing's as precious as a hole in the ground'
M.O. Ranger 3: Preparatory study for 'Nothing's as precious as a hole in the ground', 2001 eX de Medici. © eX de Medici
'Come + see the real thing, come + see' Conquistadors parts Hong. Ranger 3: Preparatory study for 'Nothing's as precious as a hole in the ground'
'Come + see the real thing, come + see' Conquistadors parts Hong. Ranger 3: Preparatory study for 'Nothing's as precious as a hole in the ground', 2001 eX de Medici. © eX de Medici
Douglas Frew Waterhouse
Douglas Frew Waterhouse, 2003 Robyn Stacey. © Robyn Stacey
Untitled (preparatory study for sculpture of Dr John Yu)
Untitled (preparatory study for sculpture of Dr John Yu), 2003 Ah Xian. © Ah Xian
34 images
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© National Portrait Gallery 2023
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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.

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