These sketches have been in the collection of the National Portrait Gallery for eight years, but they have never before been exhibited. Jenny Sages became accustomed to working this way while on assignments for Vogue magazine, annotating her impressions of fashion and exotic destinations. However, her sketches of Emily Kngwarreye are unique in the Gallery's collection, providing, as they do, not only a graphic record but a written record of an extraordinary encounter between two women at ground level.
It was out of a desire for these drawings to be seen and understood in context that the idea for the exhibition 'Jenny Sages: Paths to portraiture' evolved.
Caption: Sarah Engledow, National Portrait Gallery
Collection: National Portrait Gallery
Gift of Dr. Morris Low 2000
© Jenny Sages
Dr Morris Low (2 portraits)
On one level The Companion talks about the most famous and frontline Australians, but on another it tells us about ourselves: who we read, who we watch, who we listen to, who we cheer for, who we aspire to be, and who we'll never forget. The Companion is available to buy online and in the Portrait Gallery Store.
Australian writer Kate Grenville discusses her career and portrait by Jenny Sages.
The life and art of Australian artist Jenny Sages is on display in the exhibition Paths to Portraiture.
