Marilyn Darling AC (b. 1943), a Founding Patron of the National Portrait Gallery, was Chair of the Board of the Gallery from 2000 until 2008. Under her leadership the Gallery grew from a small institution located in Old Parliament House to a significant Federal institution in a dedicated building. Having studied science at the University of Queensland, she worked in the Department of Microbiology at the University of Melbourne in the late 1960s, and undertook postgraduate study in the Medical School of Monash University from 1973 to 1978. Soon her interests expanded to a variety of social and cultural concerns, including the Victorian Children’s Aid Society and the Victorian State Opera Foundation. By the mid-1980s she was a major patron of art, music and health in the Australian community. Soon after she married Gordon Darling in 1989, the couple convened the exhibition Uncommon Australians: Towards an Australian Portrait Gallery, which toured nationally in 1992-1993, demonstrated the potential for the institution and proved the impetus for its foundation. Since the Gallery was established in 1998 she has funded the acquisition of many remarkably diverse works for its collection. Mrs Darling is the Deputy Chair of the Gordon Darling Foundation, Melbourne, a member of the Gordon Darling Australasian Print Fund and a member of the Tate Gallery International Council.
Collection: National Portrait Gallery
Commissioned with funds provided by Tim Fairfax AC 2010
© Anne Zahalka
Accession number: 2010.136
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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.
Marilyn Darling talks about the creation of her portrait, and the photographic process.
Portraits of philanthropists in the collection honour their contributions to Australia and acknowledge their support of the National Portrait Gallery.
Naomi Cass, Director of the Centre of Contemporary Photography, in conversation with Anne Zahalka.
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