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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.

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Blow Back

Blow Back

Blow Back

Blow Back, 2018

Portrait, pigment photographic prints on paper, hand ground glass

Gift of the artist 2024. Donated through the Australian Government’s Cultural Gifts Program.

Abbey Mag (detail), 2017 Tanja Bruckner

Safe space

Magazine article by Amy Middleton, 2023

Amy Middleton on the power of portraiture in promoting inclusivity and connecting with intersectionality and diversity in all its forms.

Self-nature is subtle and mysterious - Tree Woman / Woman Tree

New acquisitions

Current exhibition

A collection display that showcases some recent major acquisitions including Nell and Julie Rrap.

Self-nature is subtle and mysterious - Tree Woman / Woman Tree

Self-nature is subtle and mysterious - Tree Woman / Woman Tree

Self-nature is subtle and mysterious - Tree Woman / Woman Tree

Self-nature is subtle and mysterious - Tree Woman / Woman Tree, 2023

Nell, Warwick Edgington, Annette Blair and Belinda Toll, Canberra Glassworks, Crawfords Casting, Eveleigh Works

Portrait, bronze, patinas, stainless steel, hand blown glass

Purchased with funds provided by the Portrait Dinner Series 2023

Self-nature is subtle and mysterious - Tree Woman / Woman Tree, 2023 Nell, Warwick Edgington (Studio Assistant) , Annette Blair and Belinda Toll, Canberra Glassworks (Glass) , Crawfords Casting (Bronze) , Eveleigh Works (Steel)

Self-nature is subtle and mysterious - Tree Woman / Woman Tree

Nell, Warwick Edgington (Studio Assistant) , Annette Blair and Belinda Toll, Canberra Glassworks (Glass) , Crawfords Casting (Bronze) , Eveleigh Works (Steel)

The Wedding, 2022 Atong Atem

See through me

Magazine article by Penelope Grist and Rebecca Ray, 2022

Penelope Grist and Rebecca Ray talk to the artists in Portrait23: Identity about transcending modes of portraiture.

Nell standing in her workshop next to a cross legged sculpture

Nell

Artists and Collectives

Nell is a multidisciplinary artist based on Gadigal land in the Eora Nation, Sydney. Her work fuses mythological, spiritual and popular cultural iconography.

Portrait 23: Identity

Artists and Collectives

General content

Arts Project Australia, Yarrenyty Arltere Artists, ‘stArts with D’ Performance Ensemble, Abdul Abdullah, Alison Alder, Amrita Hepi, Atong Atem, Christopher Bassi, Kate Beynon, Mia Boe, Baby Guerrilla, Tarryn Gill, Julie Gough, Naomi Hobson, Deborah Kelly, Fiona McMonagle, Angelica Mesiti, Dylan Mooney, Nell, Sally Smart, Vipoo Srivilasa, Latai Taumoepeau and Kaylene Whiskey.

William Shakespeare, c. 1600-1610 associated with John Taylor

Take thy face hence

Magazine article by Joanna Gilmour, 2022

Joanna Gilmour travels through time to explore the National Portrait Gallery London’s masterpieces in Shakespeare to Winehouse.

Self-portrait in white jacket , 1901-02 Hugh Ramsay

Wunderkind lost

Magazine article by Inga Walton, 2021

Inga Walton on the brief but brilliant life of Hugh Ramsay.

Rachel Ward and Bryan Brown (detail), 2006 (printed 2020) © Peter Brew-Bevan

Australian Love stories

Family, friends, fanatics and foes (and everything in between!)

Previous exhibition, 2021

Reconnect and reflect with our new major exhibition, Australian Love Stories (in real life!) as we explore love, affection and connection in all its guises.

15 minutes of frame

NPG Wellington, Edinburgh and Canberra, 10th March 2021

Recorded virtual programs

Delve into the lives, loves and labour of the world’s most prominent portrait galleries in this international conversation series.

spaces between movement and stillness

Harriet Schwarzrock: spaces between movement and stillness

10 February 2021

Archived media releases 2021

To celebrate the new exhibition Australian Love Stories, renowned Australian glass artist Harriet Schwarzrock has been commissioned to make a large-scale installation reflecting on the role the heart plays as our emotional centre.

Rachel Ward and Bryan Brown

Australian Love Stories

Archived media releases 2021

A major new exhibition celebrating love in all its guises. Opening 20 March 2021.

Nell Gwyn, c. 1680 Simon Verelst

Nell Gwyn

Lucy Escott

An international troupe of two

It's Complicated

Office romance

© 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