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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 "A little bit louder now...", 1999 Ivan Durrant. © Ivan Durrant/Copyright Agency, 2021
Andy Thomas, 2002 Montalbetti & Campbell. © Montalbetti & Campbell
Cathy Freeman, 1999 Kerrie Lester. © Kerrie Lester/Copyright Agency, 2021
John Howard and Janette Howard, 2000 Josonia Palaitis. © Josonia Palaitis/Copyright Agency, 2021
Mark Taylor, 1999 Bill Leak. © Estate of Bill Leak
Nick Cave, 1999 Howard Arkley. © Estate of Howard Arkley. Licensed by Kalli Rolfe Contemporary Art.
Simone Young, 2002 Bill Henson. © Bill Henson
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. © Brent Harris
Full-size preparatory study for the portrait of Leo Schofield, 2001 Brent Harris. © Brent Harris
Leo Schofield, 2001 Brent Harris. © Brent Harris
Imelda Roche, 2003 Paul Newton. © Paul Newton
Preparatory study for Betty Cuthbert, 2002 Andrew Daly. © Andrew Daly
Preparatory study for Betty Cuthbert, 2002 Andrew Daly. © Andrew Daly
Preparatory study for Betty Cuthbert, 2002 Andrew Daly. © Andrew Daly
General Eva Burrows AC AO, 2001 Gabrielle Martin. © Commonwealth of Australia
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. © Commonwealth of Australia
Preparatory study for General Eva Burrows AC AO, 2001 Gabrielle Martin. © Commonwealth of Australia
Betty Cuthbert, 2002 Andrew Daly. © Andrew Daly
Professor Peter Doherty, 2001 Rick Amor. © Rick Amor
Clifford Possum Tjapaltjarri, 2002 Tim Johnson. © Tim Johnson
Portrait of Elizabeth Jolley, 2003 Mary Moore. © Mary Moore
Preparatory study for the portrait of the Hon Tom Hughes QC, 2001 Jiawei Shen. © Jiawei Shen
Hon Tom Hughes QC, 2001 Jiawei Shen. © 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. © 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. © 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. © 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. © Robyn Stacey
Untitled (preparatory study for sculpture of Dr John Yu), 2003 Ah Xian. © Ah Xian
34 images
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The National Portrait Gallery building front entrance

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© National Portrait Gallery 2021
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.

The National Portrait Gallery is an Australian Government Agency