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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.

Bob Maza

1994 (printed 2003)
Juno Gemes

gelatin silver photograph on paper, edition 1/2 (sheet: 50.9 cm x 60.6 cm, image: 44.2 cm x 29.0 cm)

Bob Maza (1939-2000), actor, playwright and activist, was born on Palm Island in North Queensland. His father was from Murray Island in the Torres Strait, his mother of the Yidinjdji people. After the 1967 referendum he became active in Aboriginal affairs. In 1970 he travelled to the US as part of a delegation to the United Nations, and spent time working with the National Black Theatre of Harlem. On his return to Australia he co-founded the National Black Theatre of Australia, and began to work as a playwright. His best-known play, The Keepers, was performed at the Adelaide Festival and Belvoir Street Theatre in 1988, and earned him that year's National Black Playwright Award. His other plays include No Shame and the radio drama Sugarbag. As an actor he had a regular role on ABC TV's Bellbird during the 1970s. His work in film included roles in The Chant of Jimmy Blacksmith (1978), The Fringe Dwellers (1985) and Ground Zero (1987). He won the Order of Australia in 1993 and the Red Ochre Award, for outstanding contribution to the arts, in 1988.

Gift of the artist 2005. Donated through the Australian Government's Cultural Gifts Program.
© Juno Gemes/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

Juno Gemes (age 50 in 1994)

Bob Maza (age 55 in 1994)

Subject professions

Performing arts

Donated by

Juno Gemes (22 portraits)

© National Portrait Gallery 2024
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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.

The National Portrait Gallery is an Australian Government Agency