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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.

The Gallery’s Acknowledgement of Country, and information on culturally sensitive and restricted content and the use of historic language in the collection can be found here.

John Bell

c. 1968
Greg Weight

gelatin silver photograph on paper (sheet: 40.4 cm x 50.4 cm, image: 29.6 cm x 43.4 cm)

John Bell (b. 1938), painter and draughtsman, was encouraged to pursue an art career by the artist Donald Friend, for whom Bell had modelled. Bell studied at East Sydney Technical College between 1953 and 1958 and became the toast of the Sydney art scene with the sold-out success of his first solo exhibition, held in 1960. Travels in New Guinea and northern Australia in 1962 inspired an exhibition of new work. But a falling out with his dealer saw Bell remove all of his paintings just before the opening of the anticipated exhibition and he has continued to work outside of the mainstream art market ever since.

Greg Weight opened a photography business in 1968 and later became a member of the Yellow House artist's collective with Martin Sharp, Brett Whiteley, George Gittoes and Peter Kingston. Weight photographed John Bell in his Sydney studio, depicting him next to his recently finished painting of his wife. This photograph of Bell became the first in a series of portraits by Weight of Australian artists. Weight has said that these photographs 'reflect three decades of my curiosity and respect for some of this country's most interesting artists.'

Gift of Patrick Corrigan AM 2004. Donated through the Australian Government's Cultural Gifts Program.
© Gregory Weight/Copyright Agency, 2024

The National Portrait Gallery respects the artistic and intellectual property rights of others. Works of art from the collection are reproduced as per the Australian Copyright Act 1968 (Cth). The use of images of works from the collection may be restricted under the Act. Requests for a reproduction of a work of art can be made through a Reproduction request. For further information please contact NPG Copyright.

Artist and subject

Greg Weight (age 22 in 1968)

John Bell (age 30 in 1968)

Subject professions

Visual arts and crafts

Donated by

Patrick Corrigan AM (130 portraits)

© National Portrait Gallery 2024
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Canberra, ACT 2600, Australia

Phone +61 2 6102 7000
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 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.

The National Portrait Gallery is an Australian Government Agency