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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.

Express Yourself

This exhibition celebrates Australians whose unique life experiences symbolise social and cultural forces. Uncompromising individuality defines them. The portraits are drawn from the National Portrait Gallery’s collection of contemporary photography and drawing.

More information on Express Yourself

Selected images

31 images
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Rosie Batty
Rosie Batty, 2017 Nikki Toole. © Nikki Toole
Leigh Bowery in Fur Coat
Leigh Bowery in Fur Coat, c. 1983 (printed 2005) David Gwinnutt. © David Gwinnutt
Jeff Fenech and trainer, John Lewis
Jeff Fenech and trainer, John Lewis, 1986 Graham McCarter. © Graham McCarter
Marcia Langton
Marcia Langton, 2013 Juno Gemes. © Juno Gemes/Copyright Agency, 2022
Christos Tsiolkas
Christos Tsiolkas, 1998 (printed 2009) John Tsiavis. © John Tsiavis
Ben Mendelsohn
Ben Mendelsohn, 2001 (printed 2014) Ingvar Kenne. © Ingvar Kenne
Barrie Kosky, Sydney Opera House
Barrie Kosky, Sydney Opera House, c. 1997 (printed 2017) Robert McFarlane. © Robert McFarlane/Copyright Agency, 2022
Michelle Garnaut
Michelle Garnaut, 2015 Dave Tacon. © Dave Tacon/Copyright Agency, 2022
Ginger Riley at the Limmen River, Northern Territory
Ginger Riley at the Limmen River, Northern Territory, 1992 (printed 2013) Helga Leunig. © Helga Leunig
Jack Charles
Jack Charles, 2011 Rod McNicol. © Rod McNicol
Meredith Rogers, September 1978
Meredith Rogers, September 1978, 1978 (printed 2012) Robert Rooney. © Estate of Robert Rooney
Jenny Watson 4, February 1979
Jenny Watson 4, February 1979, 1979 (printed 2012) Robert Rooney. © Estate of Robert Rooney
Peter Booth 3, September 1978
Peter Booth 3, September 1978, 1978 (printed 2012) Robert Rooney. © Estate of Robert Rooney
Robert Hunter, July 1978
Robert Hunter, July 1978, 1978 (printed 2012) Robert Rooney. © Estate of Robert Rooney
Creature from the Black Platoon starring Gary Foley 2011
Creature from the Black Platoon starring Gary Foley 2011 TextaQueen. © TextaQueen
Nam Le
Nam Le, 2010 Rozalind Drummond. © Rozalind Drummond
Oodgeroo Noonuccal at Moongalba Stradbroke Island (her sitting down place)1982
Oodgeroo Noonuccal at Moongalba Stradbroke Island (her sitting down place)1982 Juno Gemes. © Juno Gemes/Copyright Agency, 2023
Oodgeroo Noonuccal at Moongalba
Oodgeroo Noonuccal at Moongalba, 1982 Juno Gemes. © Juno Gemes/Copyright Agency, 2022
Jim Conway
Jim Conway, 2006 Greg Warburton. © Greg Warburton
Christos Tsiolkas
Christos Tsiolkas, 1998 (printed 2009) John Tsiavis. © John Tsiavis
After Ophelia: Fiona Foley at Lake Mackenzie, Fraser Island (Referencing Ophelia by John Everett Millais)
After Ophelia: Fiona Foley at Lake Mackenzie, Fraser Island (Referencing Ophelia by John Everett Millais), 1994 Juno Gemes. © Juno Gemes/Copyright Agency, 2022
Dadang Christanto
Dadang Christanto, 2005 Hari Ho. © Hari Ho/Copyright Agency, 2022
Study for a portrait of Alex Wodak
Study for a portrait of Alex Wodak, 2003 Nick Mourtzakis. © Nick Mourtzakis
The Hon Gough Whitlam, Ossie Cruse and Michael Anderson
The Hon Gough Whitlam, Ossie Cruse and Michael Anderson, 1981 (printed 2003) Juno Gemes. © Juno Gemes/Copyright Agency, 2022
Patrick Johnson
Patrick Johnson, c. 2000 Penny Tweedie. © Estate of Penny Tweedie
Kumantjayi Perkins at the Roma Forum, Brisbane
Kumantjayi Perkins at the Roma Forum, Brisbane, 1982 Juno Gemes. © Juno Gemes/Copyright Agency, 2022
Carol Ruff
Carol Ruff, 1998 Greg Weight. © Gregory Weight/Copyright Agency, 2022
Marcia Langton
Marcia Langton, 1982 Juno Gemes. © Juno Gemes/Copyright Agency, 2023
Ursula Hoff
Ursula Hoff, 1994 Francis Reiss. © Estate of Francis Reiss
Robyn Archer
Robyn Archer, 1982 Robert McFarlane. © Robert McFarlane/Copyright Agency, 2022
Portrait of Cate Blanchett
Portrait of Cate Blanchett, 2008 David Rosetzky. © Commonwealth of Australia
31 images
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Related information

Hosting a touring exhibition

National Portrait Gallery touring exhibitions

Information for galleries who would like to host an NPG exhibition.
Jim Conway
Jim Conway
Jim Conway
Jim Conway

Selfhood transcended

Magazine article by Dr Anne Sanders and Dr Christopher Chapman, 2018

Anne Sanders and Christopher Chapman bring passionate characterisation to Express Yourself, the Portrait Gallery collection exhibition celebrating iconoclastic Australians.
Miles and Arkie, 2015 by Clint Peloso
Miles and Arkie, 2015 by Clint Peloso
Miles and Arkie, 2015 by Clint Peloso
Miles and Arkie, 2015 by Clint Peloso

Shop Talk

Magazine article by Stephen Phillips, 2016

Angus and the arbiters talk (photo) shop for the National Photographic Portrait Prize.
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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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