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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.

The Daughter, 2012 Del Kathryn Barton

Maiden Mother Crone

Upcoming exhibition

Enter the intricate and elaborate worlds of contemporary artists Del Kathryn Barton, Emily Hunt and Jess Johnson.

Courtney Act wears Romance Was Born x Paul Yore AW 2023 collection ‘Stronger Together’. Photographer: Georges Antoni

In Conversation

Courtney Act and Paul Yore
Event, Saturday 24 October

Join drag queen, singer and television personality Courtney Act in conversation with artist Paul Yore as they discuss their new portrait.

Portrait of Charles Blackman

Virtual Highlight Tour

Portrait Conversations
Event, Tuesday 24 November

Join Experience Facilitators Nici and Quinton for a portrait conversation exploring creative ecosystems and the networks of people, ideas and influences that shape artistic practice.

Justine Clarke, 2026 Jasmine Lancaster Merton

Justine Clarke by Jasmine Lancaster Merton

Portrait Artist of the Year
Exhibition

Season 2 of ABC’s hit series Portrait Artist of the Year is nearly here! See artists at work over eight episodes as 54 contestants vie for the opportunity to have their work hang at the National Portrait Gallery!

Brainstorm: Inside the mind of Andy Griffiths

Brainstorm

Inside the mind of Andy Griffiths
Event, Daily from Saturday 26 Sep

Before you see the new portrait of best-selling children’s author Andy Griffiths by Ronnie van Hout, discover where Andy’s inspiration comes from.

Andy Andy, 2026 Ronnie van Hout

Andy Griffiths

Exhibition

Once upon a time, in a not-so-faraway land, there was a Gallery that decided to commission a portrait of Andy Griffiths!

Louise Sauvage

Virtual Highlight Tour

International Day of Disability
Event, Tuesday 1 December

Join Experience Facilitator, Cate, and celebrate portraits of people with a disability.

The photographer's shadow (Olive Cotton and Max Dupain)

Virtual Highlight Tour

In the Shadows
Event, Tuesday 17 November

Join Experience Facilitator Sami on a curated journey through portraits that slip into the shadows.

Warwick Thornton

Virtual Highlight Tour

Ready, Set, Action!
Event, Tuesday 10 November

Join Experience Facilitator Kat to go behind the scenes of portraits of Australian film directors.

Study for commissioned portrait of HRH Crown Princess Mary of Denmark (profile head study)

Virtual Highlight Tour

Sketch and Study
Event, Tuesday 3 November

Join Experience Facilitator, Sophia, to gain insight into the artistic process through studies and sketches in the collection.

Peter Sculthorpe

Virtual Highlight Tour

The Sound of Portraits
Event, Tuesday 27 October

Join Experience Facilitator, Nina, to explore how portraits can embody the sound, experience and feeling of making music.

Nick Cave

Virtual Highlight Tour

Dare To Be Different
Event, Tuesday 20 October

Join Experience Facilitator Samantha as she uncovers three Australian portraits which dare to be different. Expect the unexpected.

Self portrait with Bottlebrush

Virtual Highlight Tour

Journey of a Portrait
Event, Tuesday 13 October

Join Experience Facilitator Cate to explore portraits that speak to the process of art making.

Drawing at an easel

Drawn in Drag

Sketching with FLESH Queer Life Drawing
Event, Sunday 25 October

Pick up a pencil and find an easel for an afternoon of sketching in collaboration with FLESH Queer Life Drawing and SpringOUT.

People viewing artworks in a gallery

Classroom Connections

Photographic Portraiture
Event, Tuesday 27 October

Join the National Portrait Gallery's Creative Engagement educators Amy and Ellie for Classroom Connections: Photographic Portraiture.

A child drawing on paper at a table

Little Faces

Event, Starts Monday 26 October

Join us for a playful morning together as we look at Janenne Eaton’s portrait of Professor John Mulvaney.

© National Portrait Gallery 2026
King Edward Terrace, Parkes
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