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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.

Jack Thompson

2013
Dr Julie Dowling

synthetic polymer paint and red ochre on canvas (support: 61.0 cm x 61.2 cm)

Jack Thompson AM (b. 1940), actor, is the face of 1970s Australian screen culture, having appeared in television series like Homicide and Spyforce, and seminal films including Wake in Fright (1971), Sunday Too Far Away (1975) and The Chant of Jimmy Blacksmith (1978). He won an AFI award and was named best supporting actor at Cannes for his performance in Breaker Morant (1980), which was followed by roles in The Man from Snowy River (1982) and Burke and Wills (1985). Since The Sum of Us (1994), he has worked on numerous other local and international films including Australia (2008), Mao's Last Dancer (2009), The Great Gatsby (2013) and High Ground (2020). In 2007, he established the Jack Thompson Foundation to support employment, housing and sustainability programs in East Arnhem Land. He received an honorary doctorate for his work with the Gumatj people in 2012.

Badimaya artist and activist Julie Dowling is known for her powerful social realist works which examine subjects such as the Stolen Generations and injustices against First Nations peoples. It is unusual for Dowling to make portraits that are unrelated to her own history and cultural heritage, but she was inspired to make this portrait of Thompson after learning of his philanthropic work and his advocacy for land rights and social justice.

Purchased 2015
© Julie Dowling/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

Dr Julie Dowling (age 44 in 2013)

Jack Thompson AM (age 73 in 2013)

© 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