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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.

Search / william yang

William, Randwick

William, Randwick

William, Randwick

William, Randwick, 1975/2008

William Yang, Melody Cooper

Portrait, inkjet print, black and purple ink on paper

Purchased 2022

William in Scholar's Costume

William in Scholar's Costume

William in Scholar's Costume

William in Scholar's Costume, 1984/2008

William Yang, Yensoon Tsai

Portrait, inkjet print, black and purple ink on paper

Purchased 2022

William at Queensland University

William at Queensland University

William at Queensland University

William at Queensland University, 1968/2008

William Yang, an unknown artist

Portrait, inkjet print, white and purple ink on paper

Gift of the artist 2022. Donated through the Australian Government's Cultural Gifts Program.

Self Portrait #2

Self Portrait #2

Self Portrait #2

Self Portrait #2, 1947/2007

William Yang, an unknown artist

Portrait, inkjet print, black and purple ink on paper

Purchased 2022

Self Portrait #5

Self Portrait #5

Self Portrait #5

Self Portrait #5, 2008

William Yang, John Fukuda

Portrait, inkjet print, black ink on paper

Purchased 2022

Self Portrait #1, 1992 by William Yang

William Yang

Australian Chinese

Previous exhibition, 2001

William Yang's art is about the telling of stories, his work is an intriguing mixture of philosophy, autobiography, social history and documentary imbued with a sense of the artist's own curiosity, humanity and humour

William Yang

William Yang

'Feeling comfortable as a human being'

William Yang on his heritage and becoming a photographer in the 70s.

Self Portrait #5

William Yang

William Yang (b. 1943) is a pre-eminent Australian photographer known for an intensely sustained body of work that examines issues of cultural and sexual identity, and which unflinchingly documents the lives of his friends and community and his own lived experience with curiosity, sensitivity and humour.

15 portraits in the collection

Self Portrait #5

William Yang

In their own words

In their own words

Recorded 2022

The gang, 1977 William Yang

Lust for life

Magazine article, 2008

Celebrated Sydney-based photographer and performer William Yang was commissioned by the National Portrait Gallery to produce a new performance work that premiered at the opening of the Gallery's new building.

Self Portrait with Light Meter

Self Portrait with Light Meter

Self Portrait with Light Meter

Self Portrait with Light Meter, 1987/2007

Portrait, inkjet print, white ink on paper

Purchased 2022

Poof, Gay Mardi Gras, 1984 William Yang

Poof, Gay Mardi Gras, 1984

Nexus, Gay Mardi Gras, 1981 William Yang

Nexus, Gay Mardi Gras, 1981

Self Portrait #1

Self Portrait #1

Self Portrait #1

Self Portrait #1, 1992/2007

Portrait, inkjet print, black ink on paper

Purchased 2022

Miscellaneous Obsessions #1, My Living Room, Bondi

Miscellaneous Obsessions #1, My Living Room, Bondi

Miscellaneous Obsessions #1, My Living Room, Bondi

Miscellaneous Obsessions #1, My Living Room, Bondi, 2000

Portrait, gelatin silver photograph, black ink on paper

Purchased 2022

My Family in Front of Our Old Home

My Family in Front of Our Old Home

My Family in Front of Our Old Home

My Family in Front of Our Old Home, 1992

Portrait, gelatin silver photograph, black ink on paper

Purchased 2022

© National Portrait Gallery 2025
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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