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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.

Search / helen garner

Charlie Ford

Charlie Ford

I had my medium format camera to take like a nice portrait of the family and just happened to see Helen in this really natural pose, shutting the gate to keep the dog away from the spit.

Ruby (left view), 2022 Shea Kirk

National Photographic Portrait Prize 2023

Previous exhibition, 2023

The exhibition is selected from a national field of entries, reflecting the distinctive vision of Australia's aspiring and professional portrait photographers and the unique nature of their subjects.

Aunty Helen, 2021 Charlie Ford

Aunty Helen

Announcing.... In their own words

24 November 2020

Archived media releases 2020

Inspiring Australians tell their own stories in a unique new gallery audio tour, developed in collaboration with the National Library of Australia.

Helen Garner

Helen Garner

In their own words

In their own words

Recorded 1982

Ms Anna Burke MP, Speaker of the House of Representatives 2015 by Jude Rae

Hired guns, bounty hunters and horse whisperers

Magazine article by Jude Rae, 2016

Jude Rae contemplates the portrait commission.

Hilary McPhee

Hilary McPhee

Hilary McPhee

Hilary McPhee, 2015

Jacqueline Mitelman

Portrait, inkjet print on paper

Purchased with funds provided by Wayne Williams 2015

Portrait 16

June - August 2005

This issue of Portrait Magazine features portraits by Rick Amor, colonial charicatures, Les Murray, Peter Porter, Helen Garner and more.

Noni Hazlehurst

Noni Hazlehurst

Noni Hazlehurst

Noni Hazlehurst, 1977 (printed 2011)

Portrait, gelatin silver photograph on paper

Collection: National Portrait Gallery
Purchased 2011

True Stories - Helen Garner

Jenny Sages

Paths to Portraiture

Previous exhibition, 2010

The exhibition Sages examines the process of portrait making through four large-scale portraits of women by Jenny Sages, paired with intimate preparatory drawings.

Each morning when I wake up I put on my mothers face, 2000

Paths to portraiture

Magazine article by Dr Sarah Engledow, 2010

The life and art of Australian artist Jenny Sages is on display in the exhibition Paths to Portraiture.

High school, 2008

Subtle emotion

Magazine article by Dr Christopher Chapman, 2010

Christopher Chapman considers photographer Rozalind Drummond's portrait of author Nam Le.

My father-in-law watering his garden, 1986 by Davida Allen

Lovingly observed

Magazine article by Dr Sarah Engledow, 2009

Sarah Engledow previews the beguiling summer exhibition, Idle hours.

Study (d) for portrait of Helen Garner

Study (d) for portrait of Helen Garner

Study (d) for portrait of Helen Garner

Study (d) for portrait of Helen Garner, 2003

Portrait, charcoal, pencil and oil on canvas

Collection: National Portrait Gallery
Gift of J Sages Family Trust 2009
Donated through the Australian Government's Cultural Gifts Program

Study (c) for portrait of Helen Garner

Study (c) for portrait of Helen Garner

Study (c) for portrait of Helen Garner

Study (c) for portrait of Helen Garner, 2003

Portrait, charcoal, pencil and oil on canvas

Collection: National Portrait Gallery
Gift of J Sages Family Trust 2009
Donated through the Australian Government's Cultural Gifts Program

Study (b) for portrait of Helen Garner

Study (b) for portrait of Helen Garner

Study (b) for portrait of Helen Garner

Study (b) for portrait of Helen Garner, 2003

Portrait, charcoal, pencil and oil on canvas

Collection: National Portrait Gallery
Gift of J Sages Family Trust 2009
Donated through the Australian Government's Cultural Gifts Program

Study (a) for portrait of Helen Garner

Study (a) for portrait of Helen Garner

Study (a) for portrait of Helen Garner

Study (a) for portrait of Helen Garner, 2003

Portrait, charcoal, pencil and oil on canvas

Collection: National Portrait Gallery
Gift of J Sages Family Trust 2009
Donated through the Australian Government's Cultural Gifts Program

Dame Mary Gilmore

Painting writing

Magazine article by Dr Sarah Engledow, 2007

Dr Sarah Engledow explores the portraits of writers held in the National Portrait Gallery's collection.

Study for portrait of Helen Garner

Study for portrait of Helen Garner

Study for portrait of Helen Garner

Study for portrait of Helen Garner, 2003

Portrait, charcoal on paper

Collection: National Portrait Gallery
Gift of the artist 2007

Helen Garner

Helen Garner

Helen Garner

Helen Garner, 2004

Portrait, type C photograph on paper

Collection: National Portrait Gallery
Gift of the artist 2006

Baz Luhrmann

Glossy 2

Faces, Magazines, Now

Previous exhibition, 2005

Following the success of Glossy: Faces, Magazines, Now in 1999 the National Portrait Gallery again highlights the huge array of contemporary portraiture in the pages of magazines.

True Stories - Helen Garner

True Stories

Magazine article by Simon Elliott, 2005

The story behind the creation of the portrait of Helen Garner by Jenny Sages.

Study for portrait of Helen Garner

Study for portrait of Helen Garner

Study for portrait of Helen Garner

Study for portrait of Helen Garner, 2003

Portrait, pastel over digital print on paper

Collection: National Portrait Gallery
Gift of the artist 2005

True Stories - Helen Garner

True Stories - Helen Garner

True Stories - Helen Garner

True Stories - Helen Garner, 2003

Portrait, encaustic, oil and pigment on composition board

Gift of the artist 2004. Donated through the Australian Government's Cultural Gifts Program.

Chrissy Amphlett

Chrissy Amphlett

Chrissy Amphlett

Chrissy Amphlett "Temperamental", 1989

Portrait, synthetic polymer paint on composition board

Gift of the artist 2001. Donated through the Australian Government's Cultural Gifts Program.

After Jack

Jenny Sages

Jenny Sages (b. 1933), artist, was born to Russian Jewish parents in Shanghai and came to Australia with her family in 1948.

34 portraits in the collection

Helen Garner

Helen Garner

Helen Garner (b. 1942), author and journalist, is one of Australia's best-known writers.

8 portraits in the collection

Chrissy Amphlett

Chrissy Amphlett

Christina 'Chrissy' Amphlett (1959–2013), singer/songwriter, was best known for her energetic performances as the lead singer of rock band the Divinyls, often in her trademark school uniform and fishnet stockings.

1 portrait in the collection

The Story Teller (Noni Hazlehurst)

Noni Hazlehurst AM

Actor, presenter and broadcaster Noni Hazlehurst AM (b. 1953) studied drama at Flinders University in South Australia, and after graduating gained roles in the television cop shows Division 4, Homicide and Matlock Police.

2 portraits in the collection

Hilary McPhee

Hilary McPhee AO

Hilary McPhee AO (b. 1941), writer and editor, began her career at Meanjin before starting a small magazine, Theatre.

1 portrait in the collection

Helen Garner in her kitchen, 2018 by Mia McDonald

Helen Garner in her kitchen, 2018

by Mia McDonald

© 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