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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.

Portrait of Captain James Cook RN

The hand of Captain Cook

Google Arts and Culture
Learning resources

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

Betina Fauvel-Ogden and James Graham

Vox pops

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

Art Handlers' Award 2020

James & Jessica
General content

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

Art Handlers Award 2021

Art Handlers' Award 2021

James & Jessica
General content

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

Art Handlers' Award NPPP 2019 video: 1 minute

Art Handlers' Award 2019

James & Michelle
General content

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

Fragility my freedom – Ink blot mind, 2011 by Aaron James McGarry, video: 6 minutes

Fragility my freedom – Ink blot mind, 2011

by Aaron James McGarry
General content

Finalist, iD2012

Annual lecture 2012 photos

1 August 2012
General content

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

Living Memory Finalist interviews

Finalist interviews

General content

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

Ellen Stirling

Don’t judge a book by its cover

Lust

You saucy minx

Portrait 50 hits the shelves

1 September 2015
Archived media releases 2015

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

Living Memory winner announcement video: 26 minutes

Winner announcement

General content

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

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Donors

$10,000 - $49,999
Honour board
Joel Pratley

Joel Pratley

Finalist interviews

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

Franky Tsang video: 28 minutes

Franky Tsang

Finalist interviews

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

Glenn Homann video: 34 minutes

Glenn Homann

Finalist interviews

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

Julian Kingma video: 43 minutes

Julian Kingma

Finalist interviews

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

Jarrod Vero video: 24 minutes

Jarrod Vero

Finalist interviews

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

Dion Georgopoulos video: 46 minutes

Dion Georgopoulos

Finalist interviews

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

Leith Alexander video: 20 minutes

Leith Alexander

Finalist interviews

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

Glen Braithwaite video: 27 minutes

Glen Braithwaite

Finalist interviews

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

Clare M. Lapworth video: 19 minutes

Clare M. Lapworth

Finalist interviews

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

Sandy Scheltema video: 37 minutes

Sandy Scheltema

Finalist interviews

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

Jessica Hromas video: 44 minutes

Jessica Hromas

Finalist interviews

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

Tajette O'Halloran video: 30 minutes

Tajette O'Halloran

Finalist interviews

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

Kristina Kraskov video: 14 minutes

Kristina Kraskov

Finalist interviews

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

Hosting a touring exhibition

National Portrait Gallery touring exhibitions

Information for galleries who would like to host an NPG exhibition.

Art Handlers' Award 2016

General content

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

Turia Pitt

2021 Annual Appeal

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.

William Bligh

Welcome home, Captain Bligh

27 March 2015
Archived media releases 2015

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.

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Annual Appeal

Listed by year
Honour board
Charlie, 2017 by Lee Grant

National Photographic Portrait Prize 2018

8 March 2018
Archived media releases 2018

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

Portrait of Mrs Tom Roberts

2013-14 Acquisition Fund

Annual Appeal

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.

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Icons Syndicate

Lists alphabetically
Honour board
Phrenology video: 3 minutes 25 seconds

The Dissecting Room

General content

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. 

A Calm So Deep, 2018 by Elizabeth Looker

The National Portrait Gallery Announces Art Handlers’ Award

18 February 2019
Archived media releases 2019

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.

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Supporters

$5,000 - $9,999
Honour board

In their own words

Audio-guide
Apps

In their own words is an audio-guide with a difference. We let the portraits of these remarkable Australians speak for themselves.

Angus Trumble National Portrait Gallery Director

National Portrait Gallery Director announced

20 December 2013
Archived media releases 2013

The National Portrait Gallery welcomes Angus Trumble

Animation 1 from the series Hereinbefore, 2012 by Laura Moore

iD Digital Portraiture Award winner announced

2 August 2012
Archived media releases 2012

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

Nothing's as precious as a hole in the ground

Protest!

How can we dance when our earth is turning?
General content

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.

James, 2012 by Myles Nelson

Myles Nelson

Finalist interviews

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.

Finalists announced for National Photographic Portrait Prize

14 November 2018
Archived media releases 2018

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

Dovima with elephants, evening dress by Dior, Cirque d'Hiver, Paris, August 1955 by Richard Avedon

Richard Avedon People media information

8 August 2013
Archived media releases 2013

Press releases and images downloads for media.

Tim Winton

2020 Annual Appeal

Annual Appeal

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

Nicholas Paspaley Jnr

Nicholas Paspaley Jnr, 2018

by Andrew Bonneau
General content

Commissioned with funds provided by Ross Adler AC 2018

Face of South Sudan, 2012 by Melanie Faith Dove

Melanie Faith Dove

Finalist interviews

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.

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Portrait Donors

Listed by year
Honour board
Andrew Sayers AM

Past directors

History

Directors of the National Portrait Gallery from 1998 to today.

June Dally-Watkins

2023 Annual Appeal

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.

Sammy Dodd

2022 Annual Appeal

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

Andrew Sayers AM FAHA

13 October 2015
Archived media releases 2015

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

Ruby (left view), 2022 Shea Kirk

The 2023 National Photographic Portrait Prize

16 June 2023
Media

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

Last Light Ellis Hutch

Reflections

General content

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.

Life Dancers, 2015 by Elizabeth Looker

NPPP 2016 exhibition essay

General content

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

National Portrait Gallery

History

About us

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

Barry Humphries

Uncommon Australians

The vision of Gordon and Marilyn Darling
General content

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

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

Foundation Members

Foundation

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

Penny Fowler AM, John Barrington AM, Heidi Victoria, Elizabeth Dibbs, Tom Mosby, Hayley Baillie, Hugo Michell, Elizabeth Pakchung, Valerie Tam

The Board

Governance & Board

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

George Reid paperweight

Some prime ministers

General content

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

Trevor Jamieson, 2016 by Brett Canet-Gibson

The more things change...

NPPP 2017 exhibition essay
General content

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

Dr Reg Hook

Inner Worlds and psychoanalysis

Lecture, 4 June 2011
General content

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.

Dr Christopher Chapman

The art of Inner Worlds

Lecture, 7 May 2011
General content

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

Lesley Harding

Faces of war

Lecture, 14 May 2011
General content

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.

Dr Anne Sanders

Less than six degrees of separation

Lecture, 28 May 2011
General content

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

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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