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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

Johnny O'Keefe "A little bit louder now...", 1999 Ivan Durrant

Johnny O'Keefe "A little bit louder now...", 1999 Ivan Durrant. © Ivan Durrant/Copyright Agency, 2020

Andy Thomas, 2002 Montalbetti & Campbell

Andy Thomas, 2002 Montalbetti & Campbell. © Montalbetti & Campbell

Cathy Freeman, 1999 Kerrie Lester

Cathy Freeman, 1999 Kerrie Lester. © Kerrie Lester/Copyright Agency, 2020

John Howard and Janette Howard, 2000 Josonia Palaitis

John Howard and Janette Howard, 2000 Josonia Palaitis. © Josonia Palaitis/Copyright Agency, 2020

Mark Taylor, 1999 Bill Leak

Mark Taylor, 1999 Bill Leak. © Estate of Bill Leak

Nick Cave, 1999 Howard Arkley

Nick Cave, 1999 Howard Arkley. © Estate of Howard Arkley. Licensed by Kalli Rolfe Contemporary Art.

Simone Young, 2002 Bill Henson

Simone Young, 2002 Bill Henson. © Bill Henson

Portrait of Dame Elisabeth Murdoch, 2000 Victorian Tapestry Workshop

Portrait of Dame Elisabeth Murdoch, 2000 Victorian Tapestry Workshop. © Australian Tapestry Workshop

Preparatory study for the portrait of Leo Schofield No.1, 2001 Brent Harris

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, 2001 Brent Harris

Full-size preparatory study for the portrait of Leo Schofield, 2001 Brent Harris. © Brent Harris

Leo Schofield, 2001 Brent Harris

Leo Schofield, 2001 Brent Harris. © Brent Harris

Imelda Roche, 2003 Paul Newton

Imelda Roche, 2003 Paul Newton. © Paul Newton

Preparatory study for Betty Cuthbert, 2002 Andrew Daly

Preparatory study for Betty Cuthbert, 2002 Andrew Daly. © Andrew Daly

Preparatory study for Betty Cuthbert, 2002 Andrew Daly

Preparatory study for Betty Cuthbert, 2002 Andrew Daly. © Andrew Daly

Preparatory study for Betty Cuthbert, 2002 Andrew Daly

Preparatory study for Betty Cuthbert, 2002 Andrew Daly. © Andrew Daly

General Eva Burrows AC AO, 2001 Gabrielle Martin

General Eva Burrows AC AO, 2001 Gabrielle Martin. © Commonwealth of Australia

Preparatory study for General Eva Burrows AC AO, 2001 Gabrielle Martin

Preparatory study for General Eva Burrows AC AO, 2001 Gabrielle Martin. © Commonwealth of Australia

Preparatory study for General Eva Burrows AC AO, 2001 Gabrielle Martin

Preparatory study for General Eva Burrows AC AO, 2001 Gabrielle Martin. © Commonwealth of Australia

Preparatory study for General Eva Burrows AC AO, 2001 Gabrielle Martin

Preparatory study for General Eva Burrows AC AO, 2001 Gabrielle Martin. © Commonwealth of Australia

Betty Cuthbert, 2002 Andrew Daly

Betty Cuthbert, 2002 Andrew Daly. © Andrew Daly

Professor Peter Doherty, 2001 Rick Amor

Professor Peter Doherty, 2001 Rick Amor. © Rick Amor

Clifford Possum Tjapaltjarri, 2002 Tim Johnson

Clifford Possum Tjapaltjarri, 2002 Tim Johnson. © Tim Johnson

Portrait of Elizabeth Jolley, 2003 Mary Moore

Portrait of Elizabeth Jolley, 2003 Mary Moore. © Mary Moore

Preparatory study for the portrait of the Hon Tom Hughes QC, 2001 Jiawei Shen

Preparatory study for the portrait of the Hon Tom Hughes QC, 2001 Jiawei Shen. © Jiawei Shen

Hon Tom Hughes QC, 2001 Jiawei Shen

Hon Tom Hughes QC, 2001 Jiawei Shen. © Jiawei Shen

Preparatory study of Tom Hughes, 2003 Jiawei Shen

Preparatory study of Tom Hughes, 2003 Jiawei Shen. © Jiawei Shen

Preparatory study for 'Nothing's as precious as a hole in the ground'. Test #4 Broadhead and wing pattern, 2001 eX de Medici

Preparatory study for 'Nothing's as precious as a hole in the ground'. Test #4 Broadhead and wing pattern, 2001 eX de Medici. © eX de Medici

Preparatory study for 'Nothing's as precious as a hole in the ground'. Test #2 Ranger 3 pit mine Kakadu, N.T., 2001 eX de Medici

Preparatory study for 'Nothing's as precious as a hole in the ground'. Test #2 Ranger 3 pit mine Kakadu, N.T., 2001 eX de Medici. © eX de Medici

Preparatory study for 'Nothing's as precious as a hole in the ground'. Test #1 Ranger 3 pit mine Kakadu, N.T., 2001 eX de Medici

Preparatory study for 'Nothing's as precious as a hole in the ground'. Test #1 Ranger 3 pit mine Kakadu, N.T., 2001 eX de Medici. © eX de Medici

Nothing's as precious as a hole in the ground, 2001 eX de Medici

Nothing's as precious as a hole in the ground, 2001 eX de Medici. © eX de Medici

Preparatory study for 'Nothing's as precious as a hole in the ground'. M.O. Ranger 3, 2001 eX de Medici

Preparatory study for 'Nothing's as precious as a hole in the ground'. M.O. Ranger 3, 2001 eX de Medici. © eX de Medici

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, 2001 eX de Medici

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, 2001 eX de Medici. © eX de Medici

Douglas Frew Waterhouse, 2003 Robyn Stacey

Douglas Frew Waterhouse, 2003 Robyn Stacey. © Robyn Stacey

Untitled (preparatory study for sculpture of Dr John Yu), 2003 Ah Xian

Untitled (preparatory study for sculpture of Dr John Yu), 2003 Ah Xian. © Ah Xian

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© National Portrait Gallery 2020
King Edward Terrace, Parkes
Canberra, ACT 2600, Australia
Phone +61 2 6102 7000
Fax +61 2 6102 7001
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 both past and present.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander viewers are warned that this website contains images of deceased persons.