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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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Aretha Brown in front of her New Shakahari Wall Mural Commission at La Mama Theatre, Carlton, 2023 Mark Mohell

Aretha Brown

In conversation

Magazine article by Rebecca Ray, 2023

Gumbaynggirr artist Aretha Brown talks street art, collaboration and ghost stories with First Nations Curator and Meriam woman, Rebecca Ray.

Girl’s Home Regulations: BLANKETS To be aired daily. Dirty blankets to be washed. Each inmate to have her own blanket with her name in the corner. Blankets to be in the press by 12 o’clock and the press locked by the Matron, 2023 Simone Arnol

Seeing red

Magazine article by Rebecca Ray, 2023

Rebecca Ray delves into Simone Arnol’s powerful photographic tribute to her great-grandmother

Yanyangkari Roma Butler and Yangi Yangi Fox from Irrunyju (Wingellina), Western Australia, 2017 Rhett Hammerton

Weaving identity

Magazine article by Rebecca Ray, 2022

Rebecca Ray explores the way identity, belonging and connectedness are translated through materiality in First Nations portraiture.

Megan's place, 2024 Rebecca Polonski

Megan's place

Rebecca Polonski

Betty Muffler

Unpacked

Magazine article by Rebecca Ray, 2022

Rebecca Ray reflects on Robert Fielding’s Mayatjara series, honouring songlines and intergenerational knowedge.

Beau Dean Riley Smith, Wiradjuri and Gamilaraay nations, Bennelong, 2017

Space in between

Magazine article by Rebecca Ray, 2022

Rebecca Ray goes backstage with Bangarra’s Head of Design and photographer Jacob Nash.

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.

1/2 length self portrait in mirror, wearing pyjama shirt, camera at shoulder height, 1979 Carol Jerrems

Great Experimentations

Magazine article by Rebecca Harkins-Cross, 2025

Rebecca Harkins-Cross considers Carol Jerrems’ portraiture against the backdrop of social change in the 1970s.

Rebecca Blake

Curator tour with Rebecca Blake

National Photographic Portrait Prize

Event, Wednesday 20 August

Explore this year’s National Photographic Portrait Prize with exhibition curator, Rebecca Blake.

James, Rebecca and Sam Mapu

James, Rebecca and Sam Mapu

James, Rebecca and Sam Mapu

James, Rebecca and Sam Mapu, 2021

James Tylor, Craig Tuffin, Dr Elisa deCourcy

Portrait, 1/4 plate daguerreotype in a leather case lined with Nantu Watpa Grey Kangaroo fur

Purchased 2022

Portrait 68

Rebecca Ray on Robert Fielding’s Mayatjara series, Jennifer Higgie on Alice Neel, Elspeth Pitt chats with Yvette Coppersmith, Vincent Fantauzzo on virtual sittings with Hugh Jackman and more.

Rebecca Blake

Virtual Highlight Tour

Curator Intro: NPPP2025

Event, Tuesday 9 September

Join exhibition curator Rebecca Blake for an introduction to National Photographic Portrait Prize 2025, as she explores the key themes, ideas and preparation process behind the exhibition.

Dame Judith Anderson

Dame Judith Anderson

Dame Judith Anderson

Dame Judith Anderson, 1962

Portrait, pen and ink and drybrush on paper

Collection: National Portrait Gallery
Purchased 1999

Dame Judith Anderson

Dame Judith Anderson AC DBE

Dame Judith Anderson AC DBE (1897–1992) was an Adelaide-born stage and film actress well known for her role as the sinister Mrs Danvers in Alfred Hitchcock's Rebecca (1940).

1 portrait in the collection

Portrait 72

Portrait 72

Thom Roberts reveals the stories behind some of his portraits, Rebecca Harkins-Cross on Carol Jerrems, and Daniel Browning reflects on Tracey Moffatt’s 1986 series Some lads.

George Judah Cohen

George Judah Cohen

George Judah Cohen (1842-1937), banker, took over the Maitland office of his father's wholesale firm David Cohen and Co.

1 portrait in the collection

© National Portrait Gallery 2025
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Canberra, ACT 2600, Australia
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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