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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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Flying over Indulkana, 2022 Kaylene Whiskey

Super Kaylene Whiskey

Upcoming exhibition

Super Kaylene Whiskey celebrates one of Australia’s leading contemporary artists, proud Yankunytjatjara woman Kaylene Whiskey.

National Photographic Portrait Prize 2025

Upcoming exhibition

The NPPP is an annual prize for Australian photographers. The year’s most outstanding photographic portrait is awarded a $30,000 cash prize and photographic equipment valued at $20,000 courtesy of our Imaging Partner, Canon Australia.

Atong Atem

'being photographed was a point of celebration'

Portrait story

Atong Atem on exploring presentation in traditional photography.

Ngayulu Minyma Tjanpinya, I am a Tjanpi Woman

Portraits of change and country

First Nations (upper primary)

Event, Daily

Through the lens of the Visual Arts curriculum, students will delve into portraits of and by First Nations people in the National Portrait Collection, celebrating their rich stories, cultures and perspectives.

Art cart

In Bloom

Event, Daily until Sunday 28 September

Drop into the Gallery for free artmaking activities inspired by the exhibition In Bloom.

Making Sense of Place #4 (Portrait of Professor George Seddon)

Virtual Highlight Tour

Poetic Palettes

Event, Tuesday 29 July

Join Visitor Experience Assistant Samantha Taulealeausumai as she amplifies the voices of three contemporary painters, translating the power of pigment into the emotive language of colour.

APS5 Executive Assistant

Applications close midnight 10 August 2025

Employment opportunities

Reporting to the Executive Officer, the Executive Assistant provides high-level administrative and coordination support to the Director of the National Portrait Gallery. This role contributes to the broader functioning of the Executive by supporting communications, processes and engagement across the senior leadership team.

One-on-one

Current exhibition

On show in Gallery 3, One-on-one showcases portraits of pairs from the collection from the 1800s to today.

Atong Atem: The Last Women

Current exhibition

Atem’s major new commission The Last Women embodies the artist’s vibrant style of staged studio portraiture.

The Next Generation: Strength, Vision & Legacy

Visual Arts & First Nations (high school)

Event, Available until 2 April 2026

Join the National Portrait Gallery for an engaging 15 minute On Demand resource to explore this year's NAIDOC theme The Next Generation: Strength, Vision & Legacy. For students aged 13 to 18.

Shelley Ware with Albert and Vincent, 2024. Vincent Namatjira OAM

The Next Generation: Strength, Vision & Legacy

Visual Arts & First Nations (lower primary)

Event, Available until 2 April 2026

Join the National Portrait Gallery for an engaging 45 minute On Demand session to explore this year's NAIDOC theme The Next Generation: Strength, Vision & Legacy. For students aged 5 to 8.

Shelley Ware with Blood money - infinite dollar note - Aunty Regina Pilawuk Wilson, 2023. Dr Ryan Presley

The Next Generation: Strength, Vision & Legacy

Visual Arts & First Nations (upper primary)

Event, Available until 2 April 2026

Join the National Portrait Gallery for an engaging 45 minute On Demand session to explore this year's NAIDOC theme The Next Generation: Strength, Vision & Legacy. For students aged 8 to 12.

Professor Penny Sackett, astronomer and physicist

Drawn to Discovery

Upper primary and high school

Event, Selected days from Tuesday 12 August

For National Science Week, we combine art with science. Join us for an interactive and engaging program as we visually analyse three portraits of prominent Australian scientists.

Drawn In

Love Maps

Event, Sunday 24 August

Enjoy drawing to the infectious grooves of Lara and Matt of Love Maps as they deliver their signature high-energy pop rock sound in an intimate, stripped-down format.

A Questacon presenter holds a strawberry

Scientist Portraits: Story and Spectacle

Upper primary and high school

Event, Selected days from Thursday 14 August

Learn how storytelling meets science in this special program presented in collaboration with Questacon for National Science Week.

Virtual Highlight Tour

Portrait Talanoa with the Australian Museum

Event, Tuesday 30 September

Join Melissa Malu, Head of Pasifika Collections & Engagement at the Australian Museum, as she discusses community identity and what portraiture means to her from a Tongan and Fijian context.

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Canberra, ACT 2600, Australia
Phone +61 2 6102 7000
ABN: 54 74 277 1196

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