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Rene Primevere Lesson, c. 1830

Collection: National Portrait Gallery
Purchased 2012

Our First Lesson

My Brother's family, 2018

Eye line

Jo Bertini describes the evolution of her portrait of artists and friends Kitty Kantilla and Freda Warlapinni.

Observation point

For me, portraiture is all about connection. If we can connect deeply to another person’s story, it can be a profoundly moving experience.

Famous

Australian photographer Karin Catt has photographed world leaders, a host of rock stars and Oscar-winning compatriots Russell Crowe, Nicole Kidman, and Cate Blanchett.

National Photographic Portrait Prize 2023

We encourage you to look, to feel, to think, to question and most importantly, to identify and connect.

Brains trust

Eminent doctors and scientists have for more than a century consistently caused our nation to punch far above her weight.

Arthur as Alyosha?

Patrick McCaughey explores a striking Boyd self portrait.

9 lives of Karin Catt

Australian photographer Karin Catt has shot across the spectrum of celebrity, her subjects including rock stars, world leaders and actors.

kith and kin

Ellie Buttrose reveals the web of connection behind Kamilaroi/Bigambul artist Archie Moore’s kith and kin, which won the Golden Lion award at the Venice Biennale 2024.

Shop Talk

Angus and the arbiters talk (photo) shop for the National Photographic Portrait Prize.

Corporate Characters

A collection of thirty-seven caricatures by the artist Joe Greenberg capture the heroes and villians of Australian business in the 1980s.

Twin chics

Joanna Gilmour on the exuberant union of fashion pioneers Jenny Kee and Linda Jackson, captured in luminescent splendour by artist Carla Fletcher.

Paper, boy

Peter Wilmoth’s boy-journalist toolkit for antagonising an Australian political giant.