Search / jenny sages

Illuminating history

Joanna Gilmour reflects on 25 years of collecting at the National Portrait Gallery.

Gene Sherman with Family, After Tillers, After Freud, After Watteau, 1995

Gift of Dr Gene Sherman AM in memory of Brian Sherman AM (1943-2022). Donated through the Australian Government's Cultural Gifts Program 2023.

Time and Line

Encompassing the 1820s to the 2020s, Time and Line showcases the depth and extent of our drawing collection.

You are who?

Joanna Gilmour reflects on merging collections and challenging traditional assumptions around portraiture in WHO ARE YOU.

Women make history

Jennifer Higgie uncovers the intriguing stories behind portraits of women by women in the National Portrait Gallery’s collection.

Splendid, many-splendoured

Sandra Bruce gazes on love and the portrait through Australian Love Stories’ multi-faceted prism.

A deep, abiding love affair

Frames for his life’s love

Powerful, equal, legal love

Three weddings

Jackie and Kerryn

Portrait Donors

After Jack, 2012

Purchased 2018

Powerful Indigenous women

June Oscar AO lauds three iconic Aboriginal figures in the Portrait Gallery collection who have inspired and influenced her.

Hired guns, bounty hunters and horse whisperers

Jude Rae contemplates the portrait commission.

Portrait Gallery benefits from generous Boxer bequest

Canberran and modernist art collector Alan Boxer has generously bequeathed two works by artists Arthur Boyd and Jenny Sages to the National Portrait Gallery.

Observation point

Australian artist and Archibald Prize winner, Jenny Sages reflects on her work.

Kate Grenville

Australian writer Kate Grenville discusses her career and portrait by Jenny Sages.

Kate (Kate Grenville), 2012

Gift of the artist 2014. Donated through the Australian Government's Cultural Gifts Program.

Emily Kame Kngwarreye, 1995

Collection: National Portrait Gallery
Bequest of Alan Boxer 2014

Jenny Sages

A companion to our 2012-13 Paths to Portraiture travelling exhibition, which provides suggestions for teachers to use before, during and after their Gallery visit. For Secondary students.

Portrait 37

This issue features Jenny Sages, Francis Bacon and Lucian Freud, Brook Andrew's portrait of Marcia Langton, Nicholas Harding, Lola Montez, Mick Molloy and more.

Jenny Sages

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

Paths to portraiture

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

Idle Hours

Idle hours is an exhibition of luxurious beauty. Paintings, prints and drawings represent subjects in quiet moods and situations arranged according to the time of day they depict - reading, drawing, snoozing, bathing, sewing, gardening, sitting, looking, making love and spending tranquil time with companions. Works in the exhibition range from the beginning of the twentieth century to the present.

Lovingly observed

Sarah Engledow previews the beguiling summer exhibition, Idle hours.

Handing on the baton

Michael Desmond explores the life of ballerina Irina Baranova through the portrait by Australian artist Jenny Sages.

Study (d) for portrait of Helen Garner, 2003

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, 2003

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, 2003

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, 2003

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

Study of a pair of ballet dancers, 2007

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

Study of male ballet dancers standing in a line, 2007

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

Study of female ballet dancers, 2007

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

Irina Baronova (handing on the baton), 2007

Gift of the J Sages Family Trust 2009. Donated through the Australian Government's Cultural Gifts Program.

Painting writing

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

Study for portrait of Helen Garner, 2003

Collection: National Portrait Gallery
Gift of the artist 2007

True Stories

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

Blue Collar Icon

Dr Sarah Engledow delves into the life of union leader Pat Mackie who is depicted in a portrait by Nancy Borlase AM.

Study for portrait of Helen Garner, 2003

Collection: National Portrait Gallery
Gift of the artist 2005

101 photographic portraits

Pat Corrigan's generous gift of 100 photographic portraits by Greg Weight.

True Stories - Helen Garner, 2003

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

Jenny Sages, 1995

Gift of Patrick Corrigan AM 2004. Donated through the Australian Government's Cultural Gifts Program.

Untitled (Study for 'Emily Kame Kngwarreye with Lily'), 1993

Collection: National Portrait Gallery
Gift of the artist 2002
Donated through the Australian Government's Cultural Gifts Program

Untitled (Study for 'Emily Kame Kngwarreye with Lily'), 1993

Collection: National Portrait Gallery
Gift of the artist 2002
Donated through the Australian Government's Cultural Gifts Program

Untitled (Study for 'Emily Kame Kngwarreye with Lily'), 1993

Gift of the artist 2002. Donated through the Australian Government's Cultural Gifts Program.

Untitled (Study for 'Emily Kame Kngwarreye with Lily'), 1993

Collection: National Portrait Gallery
Gift of the artist 2002
Donated through the Australian Government's Cultural Gifts Program

Untitled (Study for 'Emily Kame Kngwarreye with Lily'), 1993

Gift of the artist 2002. Donated through the Australian Government's Cultural Gifts Program.

Untitled (Study for 'Emily Kame Kngwarreye with Lily'), 1993

Collection: National Portrait Gallery
Gift of the artist 2002
Donated through the Australian Government's Cultural Gifts Program

Untitled (Study for 'Emily Kame Kngwarreye with Lily'), 1993

Collection: National Portrait Gallery
Gift of the artist 2002
Donated through the Australian Government's Cultural Gifts Program

Untitled (Study for 'Emily Kame Kngwarreye with Lily'), 1993

Collection: National Portrait Gallery
Gift of the artist 2002
Donated through the Australian Government's Cultural Gifts Program

Untitled (Study for 'Emily Kame Kngwarreye with Lily'), 1993

Collection: National Portrait Gallery
Gift of the artist 2002
Donated through the Australian Government's Cultural Gifts Program

Untitled (Study for 'Emily Kame Kngwarreye with Lily'), 1993

Collection: National Portrait Gallery
Gift of the artist 2002
Donated through the Australian Government's Cultural Gifts Program

Untitled (Study for 'Emily Kame Kngwarreye with Lily'), 1993

Collection: National Portrait Gallery
Gift of the artist 2002
Donated through the Australian Government's Cultural Gifts Program

Untitled (Study for 'Emily Kame Kngwarreye with Lily'), 1993

Gift of the artist 2002. Donated through the Australian Government's Cultural Gifts Program.

Untitled (Study for 'Emily Kame Kngwarreye with Lily'), 1993

Gift of the artist 2002. Donated through the Australian Government's Cultural Gifts Program.

Untitled (Study for 'Emily Kame Kngwarreye with Lily'), 1993

Collection: National Portrait Gallery
Gift of the artist 2002
Donated through the Australian Government's Cultural Gifts Program

Untitled (Study for 'Emily Kame Kngwarreye with Lily'), 1993

Gift of the artist 2002. Donated through the Australian Government's Cultural Gifts Program.

Emily Kame Kngwarreye, 1995

Collection: National Portrait Gallery
Gift of Dr. Morris Low 2000

Nancy Borlase and Laurie Short, 1991

Gift of the Margaret Olley Art Trust 1998

Emily Kame Kngwarreye with Lily, 1993

Purchased 1998

Dr Sarah Engledow

Dr Sarah Engledow was appointed Historian at the National Portrait Gallery in 1999.

Jenny Sages - artist, 2012