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Little Faces

Do we have a treat for the smaller humans in your life! Little Faces is for babies and toddlers (with their grown up) to play, sing and have fun discovering a portrait together.

Art Cart

Adventure into a miniature world this autumn. Create your own paper doll inspired by portraits in our collection. Then make your own chair for your doll to have a rest in our mini-Gallery with portraits of people taking a seat!

Icons Syndicate

Alison Alder

One of Australia’s preeminent printmakers, Alison Alder explores social and political issues through her art practice from her studio in Mongarlowe on Yuin Country.

Philanthropy Australia names Tim Fairfax as Australia’s 2021 Leading Philanthropist

Australian philanthropy’s highest honour, the Leading Philanthropist Award, was awarded to Tim Fairfax AC for his significant and enduring contributions to rural and regional Australia, as well as his passionate support and advocacy for organisations involved in education, arts and culture.

Flash mob

Sarah Engledow trains her exacting lens on the nine photographs from 20/20.

A free family festival to celebrate spring and Children’s Week

Wake from your winter hibernation to celebrate Children’s Week and Canberra’s spring season at the National Portrait Gallery’s free Spring Festival.

Portrait stories

The National Portrait Gallery interviewed the 20/20 artists and subjects throughout the commissioning journey. Browse these Portrait Stories to get insights into the incredible achievements of the subjects and the creation of their portraits.

Tan Le

Tech entrepreneur Tan Le and photographer John Tsiavis.

Catherine Livingstone

Businesswoman Catherine Livingstone and artist Mathew Lynn.

Jessica Mauboy

Singer, songwriter and actress Jessica Mauboy with artist David Rosetzky.

David Foster

World champion woodcutter David Foster and artist Jacqui Stockdale.

Michelle Simmons

Professor Michelle Simmons and photographer Selina Ou.

National Portrait Gallery unveils twenty new portrait commissions to celebrate twenty years

The National Portrait Gallery has unveiled twenty new portrait commissions of Australian leaders and individualists as part of its twentieth birthday celebrations in a new exhibition, 20/20: Celebrating twenty years with twenty new portrait commissions.

20/20 launch speech

Dr Helen Nugent AO, Chairman, National Portrait Gallery at the opening of 20/20: Celebrating twenty years with twenty new portrait commissions.

Catherine Livingstone, 2018

Commissioned with funds provided by Tim Fairfax AC 2018

Tim Fairfax, 2018

Commissioned with funds provided by The Calvert-Jones Foundation 2018

Study in scarlet

Angus Trumble reflects on the force of nature that was Helena Rubinstein.

Li Cunxin, 2017–2018

Commissioned with funds provided by Tim Fairfax AC 2018

Andrew Gaze

Basketballer Andrew Gaze and photographer George Fetting.

Humdinger

At a meeting by teleconference of the National Portrait Gallery Foundation last week, I found myself reporting that our forthcoming exhibition So Fine is going to be “a humdinger,” whereupon Tim Fairfax chuckled and said that he hadn’t heard that expression for years.

Nikki Toole

Photographer Nikki Toole describes the creation of her portrait of Rosie Batty.

Rosie Batty

The 2015 Australian of the Year talks about grief and searching for recognition of, and action on, domestic violence.

Li Cunxin, 2018

Commissioned with funds provided by Tim Fairfax AC 2018

Catherine Livingstone, 2018

Commissioned with funds provided by Tim Fairfax AC 2018

Tim Fairfax AC, 2018

Commissioned with funds provided by The Calvert-Jones Foundation 2018

David McAllister

Artistic Director of The Australian Ballet, David McAllister describes the trajectory of his relationship with dance.

Ken Done

Iconic Australian artist Ken Done discusses his life and career as a painter.

Quentin Bryce

Australia's 25th Governor-General, Quentin Bryce, discusses her childhood, career paths and her portrait by Michael Zavros.

Brian Schmidt

Astrophysicist, Nobel Prize laureate and Vice-Chancellor of the Australian National University, Professor Brian Schmidt chats about his career.

Mark Webber

Champion racing driver, Mark Webber, discusses his childhood and racing career.

Kristin Headlam with Chris Wallace-Crabbe

Artist Kristin Headlam and poet Chris Wallace-Crabbe discuss their art.

Mark Loane

Ophthalmic surgeon and former Wallabies Captain, Mark Loane, discusses his sporting and professional career.

Christos Tsiolkas

Acclaimed Australian author, Christos Tsiolkas describes his childhood and how he came to write.

Jacqueline Mitelman

Australian photographer, Jacqueline Mitelman, discusses her process for creating portraiture.

Professor Graeme Clark

Creator of the bionic ear, the Cochlear Implant, Professor Graeme Clark discusses his life and career.

Michael Leunig

Glenn Murcutt

Award-winning Australian architect, Glenn Murcutt describes the philosophy of his architectural practice and his minimalist portrait by Ken Done.

Philanthropic donations enable otherwise unobtainable acquisition

A magnanimous portrait of Helena Rubinstein has been acquired for the National Portrait Gallery’s collection.

David Malouf

Australian author David Malouf discusses the creation of his portrait by artist Rick Amor.

Dave Graney and Clare Moore

Dave Graney and Clare Moore discuss music, photography and bandoleros of meat.

Cadel Evans

Australian champion cyclist Cadel Evans discusses his career.

Tim Flannery by Robert Hannaford

Tim Flannery and artist Robert Hannaford discuss the creation of Tim's portrait.

Shane Gould

Shane Gould, Australian champion and Olympic gold medallist talks about her passion for swimming.

Quentin Bryce, 2016

Commissioned with funds provided by Tim Fairfax AC 2016

Ned Kelly and death masks

Alexandra Roginski explains the history behind the pseudo-science of phrenology.

Mandyam Srinivasan

An interview with Professor of Visual Neuroscience, University of Queensland, Mandyam Srinivasan.

Andrew Sayers AM FAHA

The Chairman, Board, Director and staff mourn the loss of the National Portrait Gallery's inaugural director.

Michael Riley's portraits

Linda Burney, Brenda Croft and Darrell Sibosado share memories of Michael Riley and his photographic practice.

Rod McNicol

Echoing 19th-century photography, Rod McNicol's portraits give us a chance to look quietly at the human condition.

Foundation members announced

The newly-established National Portrait Gallery Foundation met for its inaugural meeting last Friday 15 May in Canberra.

William Bligh

Twice rebelled against, and twice vindicated, William Bligh occupies an ambivalent space in Australian history. Angus Trumble, former Director of the National Portrait Gallery, explains.

Foundation Members

Chairman Sid Myer AM, Hayley Baillie, Tim Bednall, Jillian Broadbent AC, Patrick Corrigan AM, Marilyn Darling AC, Tim Fairfax AC, Penny Fowler AM, John Liangis, Dr Helen Nugent AC and Nigel Satterley AM.

Gordon Darling

Gordon Darling talks about how Jiawei Shen came to paint his portrait.

Marilyn Darling

Marilyn Darling talks about the creation of her portrait, and the photographic process.

Aldo Giurgola

Romaldo Giurgola talks about his portrait and the relationship between architecture and landscape.

Portrait of Cate Blanchett

David Rosetzky and Cate Blanchett talk about the creation of their video portrait.

Virtual Excursions

Live, interactive learning programs coming soon wherever you are.

Uncommon Australians

This exhibition showcases portraits acquired through the generosity of the National Portrait Gallery’s Founding Patrons, L Gordon Darling AC CMG and Marilyn Darling AC.

Uncommon Australians

Sarah Engledow writes about Gordon and Marilyn Darling and their support for the National Portrait Gallery throughout its evolution.

Robert Drewe

Artist Nicholas Harding talks about what was captured in his portrait of Robert Drewe.

Nicholas Harding

Artist Nicholas Harding talks about how he became interested in portraiture, and his motivation in painting Hugo Weaving.

Akira Isogawa

Iconic Australian fashion designer, Akira Isogawa discusses the development of his unique style.

Helena Rubinstein in a red brocade Balenciaga gown, 1957

Purchased with funds provided by Marilyn Darling AC, Tim Fairfax AC and the Sid and Fiona Myer Family Foundation 2015

Kate Grenville

Kate Grenville reads a passage from her novel The secret river and describes its creation.

Kate Grenville

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

'The portraits of Captain Cook'

Betty Churcher describes the creation of the portrait of Captain James Cook in the National Portrait Gallery.

Betty Churcher

Betty Churcher discusses her career as the Director of the National Gallery of Australia.

Penny Sackett

Professor Penny Sackett, Australian National University and former Chief Scientist for Australia (2008-2011) talks about her life in science.

Penny Sackett and Andrew Mezei

Professor Penny Sackett and artist Andrew Mezei describe the process behind making the portrait.

Portrait stories

A selection of audiovisual stories about the artists and subjects in the National Portrait Gallery's collection.

Mark Richards

Australian surfing legend Mark Richards describes his professional surfing and surfboard shaping careers.

Tom Carroll

Regarded as one of the greatest surfers of all time, Tom Carroll describes his career.

History

How the National Portrait Gallery and its unique collection came to be

Andrew Mezei

Artist Andrew Mezei talks about his art practice and the process behind his portrait of Professor Penny Sackett. 

Self portrait, 1999/2005

Purchased with funds provided by Tim Fairfax AM 2013

The art of Inner Worlds

Dr Christopher Chapman NPG Curator of Inner Worlds explains the development of an exhibition that spans from Surrealism to contemporary art.

Peter Sculthorpe

Legendary Australian composer, Peter Sculthorpe, describes the development of his career.

Professor Frank Fenner

An interview with Professor Frank Fenner who describes his life and the creation of his portrait.

Nora Heysen

Australian artist, Nora Heysen, discusses her childhood and the development of her career.

The Hon. Michael Kirby AC CMG

The Hon. Michael Kirby AC CMG interviews the artist who painted his portrait, Ralph Heimans.

Marcia Langton, Brook Andrew and Trent Walter

Professor Marcia Langton, artist Brook Andrew and printer Trent Walter discuss the creation of Marcia's portrait.

Shane Maloney and Rick Amor

Artist Rick Amor and author Shane Maloney relate divergent experiences of the creation of Shane's portrait.

David Chalmers

Professor David Chalmers explains his interest in philosophy and introduces some of his theories on the conscious mind.

Bob Brown

Bob Brown discusses the events that occurred during the Franklin River campaign as depicted in his portrait by Harold 'The Kangaroo' Thornton.

Portrait of Patrick Ryan, 1971

Collection: National Portrait Gallery
Purchased with funds provided by Tim Fairfax AC 2012

Support Crew

Portraits of philanthropists in the collection honour their contributions to Australia and acknowledge their support of the National Portrait Gallery.

Australian of the Year

The Australian of the Year Awards have often provoked controversy about who is selected and whether their achievements are remarkable.

Marilyn Darling AC, 2010

Commissioned with funds provided by Tim Fairfax AC 2010

Self portrait, c. 1948

Purchased with funds provided by Tim Fairfax AC 2010

Open Air

Open Air is an exhibition of portraits of Australians in environments of particular significance to them.

Automatic for the people: Casey Stoner, 2008

Commissioned with funds provided by Tim Fairfax AC 2008

Senator Bonner, 1990

Purchased with funds provided by Tim Fairfax AC 2008

Portraits for Posterity

Drawn from some of the many donations made to the Gallery's collection, the exhibition Portraits for Posterity pays homage both to the remarkable (and varied) group of Australians who are portrayed in the portraits and the generosity of the many donors who have presented them to the Gallery.

Giving and getting

The exhibition Portraits for Posterity celebrates gifts to the Gallery, of purchases made with donated funds, and testifies to the generosity and community spirit of Australians.

Sir Charles Court and Richard Court, 2006-2007

Commissioned with funds provided by Tim Fairfax AC 2006

Max Dupain

During his long and distinguished career Max Dupain took thousands of photographs of people

Mirror With A Memory

This is the first major exhibition to examine photographic portraiture in Australia, from its beginnings in the early 1840s to the present day