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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.

History

How the National Portrait Gallery and its unique collection came to be

More information on History

Selected images

24 images
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National Portrait Gallery
National Portrait Gallery
Andrew Sayers
Andrew Sayers, 2012 Mark Mohell. © Mark Mohell
Barry Humphries
Barry Humphries, 1958 Clifton Pugh AO. © Shane Pugh
The Movie Star (David Gulpilil)
The Movie Star (David Gulpilil), 1985 Tracey Moffatt. © Tracey Moffatt
Courtesy of the artist and Roslyn Oxley9 Gallery, Sydney.
Nick Cave
Nick Cave, 1999 Howard Arkley. © Estate of Howard Arkley. Licensed by Kalli Rolfe Contemporary Art.
Portrait of Captain James Cook RN
Portrait of Captain James Cook RN, 1782 John Webber
Trucaninny [Trukanini], wife of Woureddy [Wurati]
Trucaninny [Trukanini], wife of Woureddy [Wurati], 1836 Benjamin Law
Geoffrey Gurrumul Yunupingu
Geoffrey Gurrumul Yunupingu, 2009 Guido Maestri. © Guido Maestri
Charles Teo
Charles Teo, 2012 Adam Chang (Hong Jun Zhang). © Adam Chang (Hong Jun Zhang)
Marcia Langton
Marcia Langton, 2009 Brook Andrew, Trent Walter. © Brook Andrew
Deborah Mailman
Deborah Mailman, 1999 Evert Ploeg. © Evert Ploeg/Copyright Agency, 2024
Portrait of HRH Crown Princess Mary of Denmark
Portrait of HRH Crown Princess Mary of Denmark, 2005 Jiawei Shen. © Commonwealth of Australia
Dr John Yu
Dr John Yu, 2004 Ah Xian. © Ah Xian
Simone Young
Simone Young, 2002 Bill Henson AO. © 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
L. Gordon Darling AC CMG
L. Gordon Darling AC CMG, 2006 Jiawei Shen. © Jiawei Shen
Self portrait with gladioli
Self portrait with gladioli, 1922 George Lambert
Mr John Eason
Mr John Eason, 1838 W. B. Gould
Self portrait
Self portrait, c. 1948 John Brack. © Helen Brack
Self portrait
Self portrait, 1999/2005 Tracey Moffatt. © Tracey Moffatt
Courtesy of the artist and Roslyn Oxley9 Gallery, Sydney.
Style Over Substance
Style Over Substance, 2020 The Huxleys. © The Huxleys
Mirka by Mirka
Mirka by Mirka, 2000 Mirka Mora. © Mirka Mora/Copyright Agency, 2024
David Gulpilil's Hands
David Gulpilil's Hands, 2004 Ross Honeysett. © Ross Honeysett
Ellie Cole
Ellie Cole, 2016 (printed 2021) Peter Brew-Bevan. © Peter Brew-Bevan
24 images
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Related information

Sir Charles Kingsford Smith and Captain Charles Ulm
Sir Charles Kingsford Smith and Captain Charles Ulm
Sir Charles Kingsford Smith and Captain Charles Ulm
Sir Charles Kingsford Smith and Captain Charles Ulm

Uncommon Australians

Towards an Australian Portrait Gallery

Touring exhibition, 1992

In 1988 philanthropists Gordon and Marilyn Darling decided to make an Australian portrait gallery a reality, overseeing the development of the 1992 touring exhibition Uncommon Australians.
Gordon Darling Hall, National Portrait Gallery
Gordon Darling Hall, National Portrait Gallery
Gordon Darling Hall, National Portrait Gallery
Gordon Darling Hall, National Portrait Gallery

Architecture

About us

Natural light and human proportions – the design by Johnson Pilton Walker
Marcia Langton
Marcia Langton
Marcia Langton
Marcia Langton

Portrait Quest!

Civics and Citizenship (upper primary)

9:15am, Tue 29 Jul

Join us for an interactive, curriculum-aligned program that explores the lives and contributions of significant Australians.
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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.

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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