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The hand of Captain Cook

Take a close look at a portrait with a hidden message in its hands. For Year 7 – 9 students.

Betina Fauvel-Ogden and James Graham

Well, James is my partner's son-in-law, and I've known him for quite a long time.

Janet Dawson’s painting of Michael Boddy gives paws for thought

Bronwyn Watson writes about Summer 1986 for the Popular Pet Show.

Art Handlers' Award 2019

The Art Handlers' Award for 2019 went to A Calm So Deep, 2018 by Elizabeth Looker.

Art Handlers' Award 2021

The Art Handlers' Award for 2021 went to Kristina Kraskov for I'm just a suburban fashionista.

Art Handlers' Award 2020

The Art Handlers' Award for 2020 went to Gemma Baxter (right view), 2019 by Shea Kirk.

Fragility my freedom – Ink blot mind, 2011

Finalist, iD2012

Annual lecture 2012 photos

With James Holloway, former Director of the Scottish National Portrait Gallery.

Finalist interviews

Tara James, Exhibitions Coordinator at the National Portrait Gallery interviews Finalists from the Living Memory National Photographic Portrait Prize.

Don’t judge a book by its cover

You saucy minx

Portrait 50 hits the shelves

With contributions from Julia Gillard, Fiona Gruber, and Dr Karl James, the National Portrait Gallery’s 50th edition of Portrait has something for everyone.

Winner announcement

Director Karen Quinlan AM announces the winner at the National Portrait Gallery.

Donors

Joel Pratley

An interview with Joel Pratley, Winner of the Living Memory National Photographic Portrait Prize.

Jessica Hromas

An interview with Jessica Hromas, Finalist in the Living Memory National Photographic Portrait Prize.

Clare M. Lapworth

An interview with Clare Lapworth, Finalist in the Living Memory National Photographic Portrait Prize.

Tajette O'Halloran

An interview with Tajette O'Halloran, Finalist in the Living Memory National Photographic Portrait Prize.

Franky Tsang

An interview with Franky Tsang, Finalist in the Living Memory National Photographic Portrait Prize.

Glenn Homann

An interview with Glenn Homann, Finalist in the Living Memory National Photographic Portrait Prize.

Julian Kingma

An interview with Julian Kingma, Finalist in the Living Memory National Photographic Portrait Prize.

Jarrod Vero

An interview with Jarrod Vero, Finalist in the Living Memory National Photographic Portrait Prize.

Dion Georgopoulos

An interview with Dion Georgopoulos, Finalist in the Living Memory National Photographic Portrait Prize.

Leith Alexander

An interview with Leith Alexander, Finalist in the Living Memory National Photographic Portrait Prize.

Glen Braithwaite

An interview with Glen Braithwaite, Finalist in the Living Memory National Photographic Portrait Prize.

Sandy Scheltema

An interview with Sandy Scheltema, Finalist in the Living Memory National Photographic Portrait Prize.

Kristina Kraskov

An interview with Kristina Kraskov, Finalist and Art Handlers' Award winner in the Living Memory National Photographic Portrait Prize.

Art Handlers' Award 2016

The winner of our Art Handlers' Award receives $1000 and free return transport for their photograph, courtesy of International Art Services.

2021 Annual Appeal

In 2021 the Annual Appeal was focussed on Peter Brew-Bevan's portraits of athletes Turia Pitt, Leisel Jones OAM and Ellie Cole OAM.

Welcome home, Captain Bligh

The National Portrait Gallery will, next Tuesday, unveil an exciting new acquisition of irrefutable importance to all Australians. Portrait of William Bligh, in master’s uniform c. 1776, attributed to John Webber, is one of the earliest portraits of the contentious, historical figure, and extends the Gallery’s remarkable collection of early colonial portraits.

Annual Appeal

National Photographic Portrait Prize 2018

Images for media use will be available from 8 March 2018.

2013-14 Acquisition Fund

This 1910 portrait of Elizabeth Sarah (Lillie) Roberts by Tom Roberts was brought into the Gallery's collection with the assistance of the Acquisition Fund in 2013.

Portrait Donors

Icons Syndicate

The Dissecting Room

Though initially developed by physicians, phrenology was taken up by certain non-medical practitioners who applied the theory to social questions such as education and criminal reform. 

Janet Dawson

When soulmates Janet Dawson and Michael Boddy moved from Sydney to a property, Boddy was clear about why: ‘Our marriage is one long conversation - we moved to the bush so we could talk to each other without so many interruptions.’

The National Portrait Gallery Announces Art Handlers’ Award

The National Portrait Gallery is excited to announce that Perth photographer Elizabeth Looker has won the Art Handlers’ Award for this year’s National Photographic Portrait Prize.

Supporters

Portrait Stories Mobile App

Want to read and hear about a portrait without having to lean in?

National Portrait Gallery Director announced

The National Portrait Gallery welcomes Angus Trumble

iD Digital Portraiture Award winner announced

The inaugural winner of the $10,000 iD Digital Portraiture Award was announced this morning at the National Portrait Gallery.

Protest!

Rock’s raw potency made it the ideal medium for fomenting protest. The 1970s, 80s and onwards saw calls for social and environmental justice ring out through song.

Myles Nelson

It was definitely a candid encounter as was the expression on the face. It was constructed insofar as the image was deliberately taken from a distance so as to minimize intrusion and to magnify the effect of the image.

Some prime ministers

Sarah Engledow explores the history of the prime ministers and artists featured in the exhibition.

Finalists announced for National Photographic Portrait Prize

The National Portrait Gallery would like to congratulate the forty finalists for the National Photographic Portrait Prize 2019.

Richard Avedon People media information

Press releases and images downloads for media.

2020 Annual Appeal

In 2020 the Annual Appeal was focussed on Sally Robinson's remarkable portrait of author Tim Winton.

Nicholas Paspaley Jnr, 2018

Commissioned with funds provided by Ross Adler AC 2018

Melanie Faith Dove

I had been watching Agnes with intrigue, her face and profile were so mesmerizing. On our final day together I pulled her aside and convinced her that she had such an amazing face that I needed to get a photograph for myself. It was very spontaneous in that I decided quickly how it would best look and shot it in only two frames.

Past directors

Directors of the National Portrait Gallery from 1998 to today.

2023 Annual Appeal

In 2023 the Annual Appeal was focussed on a work by one of Australia's best loved and most successful portrait painters, Judy Cassab AO CBE, depicting model, entrepreneur and deportment icon, June Dally-Watkins OAM.

2022 Annual Appeal

In 2022 the Annual Appeal was focussed on Mayatjara by Robert Fielding, a series of 24 photographs of Elders of the Anangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara community.

Andrew Sayers AM FAHA

The Chairman, Board, Director and staff mourn the loss of the National Portrait Gallery's inaugural director.

The 2023 National Photographic Portrait Prize

Shea Kirk’s portrait of friend and fellow-artist Emma Armstrong-Porter has won the 2023 National Photographic Portrait Prize.

The Board

The Board oversees the Gallery's strategic directions, objectives and governance.

Reflections

All that fall: Sacrifice, life and loss in the First World War exhibition co-curators Dr Anne Sanders and Dr Christopher Chapman reflect on the evolution of the Gallery’s Anzac Centenary exhibition.

NPPP 2016 exhibition essay

Penny Grist, National Photographic Portrait Prize judge and curator, introduces the 2016 Prize.

History

How the National Portrait Gallery and its unique collection came to be

Uncommon Australians

Sarah Engledow writes about Gordon and Marilyn Darling and their support for the National Portrait Gallery throughout its evolution.

Foundation Members

Chairman Sid Myer AM, Hayley Baillie, Tim Bednall, Jillian Broadbent AC, Patrick Corrigan AM, Marilyn Darling AC, Tim Fairfax AC, Sam Meers AO, John Liangis, Dr Helen Nugent AC and Nigel Satterley AM.

The more things change...

Dr Sarah Engledow, National Photographic Portrait Prize judge and curator, introduces the 2017 Prize.

Inner Worlds and psychoanalysis

Inner Worlds evokes a broad view of psychology as a discipline. However, the specific interests of the practitioners whose portraits are included in the exhibition incorporate specialist areas including psychoanalysis.

The art of Inner Worlds

Dr Christopher Chapman NPG Curator of Inner Worlds explains the development of an exhibition that spans from Surrealism to contemporary art.

Faces of war

Lesley Harding, Curator, Heide Museum of Modern Art, Melbourne explores Albert Tucker’s experience of World War II, his interests in the intersection between psychology and creativity, and their influence on his portrait making.

Less than six degrees of separation

Dr Anne Sanders NPG Curatorial Researcher investigated the lives of the pioneering psychologists whose portraits are featured in Inner Worlds.