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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.

Olly's Trolly, Freddie's Brushes
Olly's Trolly, Freddie's Brushes
Olly's Trolly, Freddie's Brushes

Olly's Trolly, Freddie's Brushes, 1989

Murray Walker
Portrait, monoprint on paper

Gift of the artist 2001

Binowee, 2010 by Murray Vanderveer

Binowee, 2010

by Murray Vanderveer
Image
Langscape, 2006 by Murray Vanderveer

Langscape, 2006

by Murray Vanderveer
Image
Study for portrait of Les Murray
Study for portrait of Les Murray
Study for portrait of Les Murray

Study for portrait of Les Murray, 1995

David Naseby
Portrait, charcoal on paper

Gift of the artist 2001

Les Murray
Les Murray
Les Murray

Les Murray, 1995

David Naseby
Portrait, oil on canvas

Purchased with funds provided by the Basil Bressler Bequest 2001

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Les Murray, 2003

Norman McBeath
Portrait, bromide fibre print

Collection: National Portrait Gallery
Gift of Norman McBeath 2011

Murray Tyrrell
Murray Tyrrell
Murray Tyrrell

Murray Tyrrell, 1978 (printed 2003)

Jon Lewis
Portrait, gelatin silver photograph on paper

Collection: National Portrait Gallery
Purchased 2003

Study for portrait of Les Murray
Study for portrait of Les Murray
Study for portrait of Les Murray

Study for portrait of Les Murray, 1995

David Naseby
Portrait, charcoal on paper

Gift of the artist 2001

Stephen Murray-Smith

Stephen Murray-Smith

In their own words
In their own words

Recorded 1961

Neil Murray, Bolac, VIC
Neil Murray, Bolac, VIC
Neil Murray, Bolac, VIC

Neil Murray, Bolac, VIC, 2004

John Elliott
Portrait, type C photograph on paper

Collection: National Portrait Gallery
Gift of the artist 2005

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Murray Bail, c. 1980 (printed 2018)

Jacqueline Mitelman
Portrait, inkjet print on paper

Collection: National Portrait Gallery
Purchased 2018

Murray Rose
Murray Rose
Murray Rose

Murray Rose, 1956

an unknown artist
Portrait, gelatin silver photograph on paper

Collection: National Portrait Gallery
Purchased 2011

image not online

Murray Bail, c. 1990

Jinx Nolan
Portrait, oil on composition board

Gift of an anonymous donor 2021

Murray Bail
Murray Bail
Murray Bail

Murray Bail, 1980-1981

Fred Williams
Portrait, oil on canvas

Gift of an anonymous donor 1999. Donated through the Australian Government's Cultural Gifts Program.

Neil Murray
Neil Murray
Neil Murray

Neil Murray, 2008

Peter Hudson
Portrait, pastel and watercolour on paper

Collection: National Portrait Gallery
Gift of the artist 2010
Donated through the Australian Government's Cultural Gifts Program

The Merioola Group
The Merioola Group
The Merioola Group

The Merioola Group, 1940s

Alec Murray
Portrait, gelatin silver photograph on paper

Gift of Patrick Corrigan AM 2008. Donated through the Australian Government's Cultural Gifts Program.

Stephen Murray-Smith
Stephen Murray-Smith
Stephen Murray-Smith

Stephen Murray-Smith, 1980

Fred Williams
Portrait, oil on canvas

Collection: National Portrait Gallery
Gift of Lyn Williams AM 2011
Donated through the Australian Government's Cultural Gifts Program

Neil Murray

True fella

Magazine article by Michael Desmond, 2011

Michael Desmond profiles the Australian songwriter and performer Neil Murray and his contribution to Australian music.

Les Murray

Poets' Portraits

Magazine article by Dr Sarah Engledow, 2005

The Portrait Gallery's paintings of two poets, Les Murray and Peter Porter, demonstrate two very different artists' responses to the challenge of representing more than usually sensitive and imaginative men.

Lt. Genrl. the Rt Honble. Sir George Murray G.C.B., G.C.H. &c.
Lt. Genrl. the Rt Honble. Sir George Murray G.C.B., G.C.H. &c.
Lt. Genrl. the Rt Honble. Sir George Murray G.C.B., G.C.H. &c.

Lt. Genrl. the Rt Honble. Sir George Murray G.C.B., G.C.H. &c., 1838

John Cochran after Sir Thomas Lawrence
Portrait, engraving on paper

Collection: National Portrait Gallery
Purchased 2018

Murray Rose, Jon Henricks and John Devitt
Murray Rose, Jon Henricks and John Devitt
Murray Rose, Jon Henricks and John Devitt

Murray Rose, Jon Henricks and John Devitt, 1955

Ern McQuillan OAM
Portrait, gelatin silver photograph on paper

Collection: National Portrait Gallery
Purchased with funds provided by L Gordon Darling AC CMG 2004

Matt Moran
Matt Moran
Matt Moran

Matt Moran, 2004

Murray Fredericks, Lisa Giles
Portrait, type C photograph on paper

Gift of the artists 2005

Mabel Forrest
Mabel Forrest
Mabel Forrest

Mabel Forrest, 1917

Murray Studio (Brisbane & Gympie)
Portrait, gelatin silver photograph on paper

Collection: National Portrait Gallery
Purchased 2012

William Dampier
William Dampier
William Dampier

William Dampier, c. 1780

an unknown artist after Thomas Murray
Portrait, copper-line engraving on paper

Collection: National Portrait Gallery
Purchased 2016

Clifton Pugh painting in the studio

Painting mates

Magazine article by Michael Desmond, 2011

Michael Desmond discusses Fred Williams' portraits of friends, artist Clifton Pugh, David Aspden and writer Stephen Murray-Smith, and the stylistic connections between his portraits and landscapes.

Dame Mary Gilmore

Painting writing

Magazine article by Dr Sarah Engledow, 2007

Dr Sarah Engledow explores the portraits of writers held in the National Portrait Gallery's collection.

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The Godfrey family of Melways guides, 2009

Francis Reiss and June Orford, Tim Ainsworth
Portrait, inkjet print on paper

Collection: National Portrait Gallery
Purchased 2009

The Catholic Hierarchy of Australia
The Catholic Hierarchy of Australia
The Catholic Hierarchy of Australia

The Catholic Hierarchy of Australia, 1869

Archibald McDonald, Henry Samuel Sadd
Portrait, albumen photograph on carte de visite

Collection: National Portrait Gallery
Purchased 2010

Professor Gilbert Murray, OM, Oxford
Professor Gilbert Murray, OM, Oxford
Professor Gilbert Murray, OM, Oxford

Professor Gilbert Murray, OM, Oxford, c. 1957 (printed 2000)

David Moore
Portrait, gelatin silver photograph on paper

Collection: National Portrait Gallery
Gift of the artist 2001. Donated through the Australian Government's Cultural Gifts Program.
The series 'David Moore: From Face to Face' was acquired as a gift of the artist and with financial assistance from Timothy Fairfax AC and L Gordon Darling AC CMG 2001.

Portrait 16

June - August 2005
Magazine

This issue of Portrait Magazine features portraits by Rick Amor, colonial charicatures, Les Murray, Peter Porter, Helen Garner and more.

Portrait 39

March - May 2011
Magazine

This issue features the National Photographic Portrait Prize, Neil Murray, Lee Tulloch on Stuart Campbell, Joseph Banks, Scott Redford and more.

Sir John Hay
Sir John Hay
Sir John Hay

Sir John Hay, 1887

Freeman Brothers
Portrait, albumen silver photograph on cabinet card

Collection: National Portrait Gallery
Purchased 2015

Riverboat Rod & Ruby, 2022 James Bugg

Riverboat Rod & Ruby

James Bugg
Image
Warumpi Band, Sydney Opera House
Warumpi Band, Sydney Opera House
Warumpi Band, Sydney Opera House

Warumpi Band, Sydney Opera House, 1984 (printed 2021)

Juno Gemes
Portrait, inkjet print on paper

Purchased 2021

Joel, Mitchell Queensland, 2014 by Matthew Abbott

Joel, Mitchell Queensland, 2014

by Matthew Abbott
Image
Redfern, I love you - Alan, 2012
 by Ben Lawrence

Redfern, I love you - Alan, 2012

by Ben Lawrence
Image
Currents, 2016 by Natalie Ord

Currents, 2016

by Natalie Ord
Image
Bree Pickering

In Conversation with Director, Bree Pickering

Event, Wednesday 22 May

Join Bree Pickering, Director of the National Portrait Gallery in conversation as she reflects on her career, discusses her vision for the Gallery and shares a little bit about her first year as Director of the Gallery.

Sydney Ancher
Sydney Ancher
Sydney Ancher

Sydney Ancher, c. 1962

Max Dupain OBE
Portrait, gelatin silver photograph on paper

Gift of Rex Dupain 2003. Donated through the Australian Government's Cultural Gifts Program.

Piper, the native who accompanied Major Mitchell in his expedition to the interior of N.S.W.
Piper, the native who accompanied Major Mitchell in his expedition to the interior of N.S.W.
Piper, the native who accompanied Major Mitchell in his expedition to the interior of N.S.W.

Piper, the native who accompanied Major Mitchell in his expedition to the interior of N.S.W., 1836

William Fernyhough
Portrait, lithograph on paper

Collection: National Portrait Gallery
Gift of Dr Robert Edwards AO 1999
Donated through the Australian Government's Cultural Gifts Program

Dame Roma Mitchell
Dame Roma Mitchell
Dame Roma Mitchell

Dame Roma Mitchell, 1998

Jessica Hromas
Portrait, type C photograph on paper

Collection: National Portrait Gallery
Gift of the Hammond Care Group 1999

Anna Meares

Narelle Autio

In their own words
In their own words

Recorded 2018

The Honourable Margaret Lusink AM
The Honourable Margaret Lusink AM
The Honourable Margaret Lusink AM

The Honourable Margaret Lusink AM, 2019

Pamela Joyce, Australian Tapestry Workshop
Portrait, wool and cotton tapestry

Gift of The Honourable Margaret Lusink AM 2021

Self portrait
Self portrait
Self portrait

Self portrait, 1846

George French Angas
Portrait, lithograph on paper

Purchased 1999

Hélène Kirsova in Petrouchka
Hélène Kirsova in Petrouchka
Hélène Kirsova in Petrouchka

Hélène Kirsova in Petrouchka, 1936-1937

Max Dupain OBE
Portrait, gelatin silver photograph on paper

Collection: National Portrait Gallery
Gift of Rex Dupain 2003
Donated through the Australian Government's Cultural Gifts Program

The crime writer Shane Maloney
The crime writer Shane Maloney
The crime writer Shane Maloney

The crime writer Shane Maloney, 2004

Rick Amor
Portrait, oil on canvas

Collection: National Portrait Gallery
Gift of the artist 2010
Donated through the Australian Government's Cultural Gifts Program

Jack Charles
Jack Charles
Jack Charles

Jack Charles, 2011

Rod McNicol
Portrait, inkjet print on paper

Purchased 2013

Jimmy Little, Sydney
Jimmy Little, Sydney
Jimmy Little, Sydney

Jimmy Little, Sydney, 2004

John Elliott
Portrait, type C photograph on paper

Gift of the artist 2005

Escape, 2006 by Eddy Collett

Headspace 7

Me and My Place
Previous exhibition, 2006

Headspace 7: Me and My Place, the seventh in the National Portrait Gallery's series of student exhibitions, will be presented at Commonwealth Place. Me and My Place is the curatorial theme for the 2006 exhibition.

Portrait of Alan Marshall
Portrait of Alan Marshall
Portrait of Alan Marshall

Portrait of Alan Marshall, 1955

Lina Bryans
Portrait, oil on cardboard

Collection: National Portrait Gallery
Purchased 1999

Jimmy Little
Jimmy Little
Jimmy Little

Jimmy Little, 2003

Juno Gemes
Portrait, gelatin silver photograph on paper

Gift of the artist 2005. Donated through the Australian Government's Cultural Gifts Program.

Kate Fitzpatrick
Kate Fitzpatrick
Kate Fitzpatrick

Kate Fitzpatrick, 1983

William Yang
Portrait, type C photograph on paper

Purchased 2003

George Burarrwanga, Warumpi Band
George Burarrwanga, Warumpi Band
George Burarrwanga, Warumpi Band

George Burarrwanga, Warumpi Band, 1984 (printed 2021)

Juno Gemes
Portrait, inkjet print on paper

Purchased 2021

Kenneth Gillespie
Kenneth Gillespie
Kenneth Gillespie

Kenneth Gillespie, 2005

Dean Beletich
Portrait, gelatin silver photograph, selenium toned on paper

Purchased 2015

David Malouf

2012-13 Acquisition Fund

Annual Appeal

The Circle of Friends Acquisition Fund for 2012 was dedicated to purchasing a portrait of David Malouf by Rick Amor.

Bob Ellis
Bob Ellis
Bob Ellis

Bob Ellis, 1999

David Naseby
Portrait, oil on canvas

Purchased with funds provided by the Basil Bressler Bequest 2001

Eddie Mabo (after Mike Kelley's 'Booth's Puddle' 1985, from Plato's Cave, Rothko's Chapel, Lincoln's profile) No.3
Eddie Mabo (after Mike Kelley's 'Booth's Puddle' 1985, from Plato's Cave, Rothko's Chapel, Lincoln's profile) No.3
Eddie Mabo (after Mike Kelley's 'Booth's Puddle' 1985, from Plato's Cave, Rothko's Chapel, Lincoln's profile) No.3

Eddie Mabo (after Mike Kelley's 'Booth's Puddle' 1985, from Plato's Cave, Rothko's Chapel, Lincoln's profile) No.3, 1996

John Citizen
Portrait, synthetic polymer paint on canvas

Purchased with funds provided by L Gordon Darling AC CMG 1999

Piper, the native who accompanied Major Mitchell in his expedition to the interior
Piper, the native who accompanied Major Mitchell in his expedition to the interior
Piper, the native who accompanied Major Mitchell in his expedition to the interior

Piper, the native who accompanied Major Mitchell in his expedition to the interior, c. 1836

William Fernyhough
Portrait, lithograph on paper

Collection: National Portrait Gallery
Purchased 2016

Bob Ellis

Tribute

Bob Ellis
Magazine article, 2016

Bob Ellis (1942–2016) was a journalist, columnist, screenwriter, film director, playwright, speechwriter and critic.

Murray frees himself from straightjacket in public, 1928 by Sam Hood

Risky business

Magazine article by John Zubrzycki, 2016

John Zubrzycki lauds the characters of the Australian escapology trade.

Mal Meninga

Mal Meninga, 2018

by Peter Hudson
General content

Commissioned with funds provided by Maliganis Edwards Johnson and Alan Dodge AM 2018

Joan Sutherland

All the world's a stage

General content

Joan Sutherland, Robert Helpmann and Raigh Roe

Bree Pickering in front of Mikala Dwyer, Chromakinda, 2022, installation view, Murray Art Museum Albury

Bree Pickering appointed Director of the National Portrait Gallery

7 February 2023
Media

The Board of the National Portrait Gallery of Australia announced the appointment of Bree Pickering to the role of Director.

Self-portrait, 1973 by Noel Counihan

Of jumpers and river gums, red

Magazine article by Diana O'Neil, 2016

Diana O’Neil on Noel Counihan’s vivid 1971 portrait of Alan Marshall.

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.

Bungaree, late chief of the Broken Bay tribe, Sydney

Heads of the People

A Portrait of Colonial Australia
Previous exhibition, 2000

For Tom Roberts - Australia's best nineteenth-century portrait painter - neither a proto-national portrait gallery nor more popular collections of portrait heads, were sufficient public celebrations for the notables of Australian history

Michael Kimmelman

Magazine article by Pamela Gray, 2002

Michael Kimmelman, Chief Art Critic of The New York Times and author of Portraits: Talking with Artists at the Met, the Modern, the Louvre and Elsewhere, presented the National Portrait Gallery Third Anniversary Lecture on 2 March 2002. He was generously brought to Australia by the Gordon Darling Foundation and Qantas.

Margaret Fulton

Masters of Fare

Chefs, winemakers, providores
Previous exhibition, 2004

Masters of fare: chefs, winemakers, providores celebrates men and women who have championed the unique culinary characteristics and produce of Australia, enriching our lives with new ideas and new flavours over the past forty years.

Professor Peter Doherty

Rick Amor

21 Portraits
Previous exhibition, 2014

Rick Amor, noblest yet most unaffected of contemporary Australian portraitists, is also a painter of enigmatic, ominous landscapes, seascapes and cityscapes that haunt the viewer like dreams, dimly-recalled.

Leo Schofield

Exhibition opening speech

General content

Leo Schofield introduces the exhibition, Masters of fare: chefs, winemakers, providores.

Portrait of Professors Margaret Gardner and Glyn Davis
Portrait of Professors Margaret Gardner and Glyn Davis
Portrait of Professors Margaret Gardner and Glyn Davis

Portrait of Professors Margaret Gardner and Glyn Davis, 2017

Jacqueline Mitelman
Portrait, type C photograph on paper

Commissioned with funds provided by Jim and Barbara Higgins, Sir Roderick Carnegie AC, Rupert Myer AO and Annabel Myer, Louise and Martyn Myer Foundation, Peter and Ruth McMullin, Diana Carlton, Professor Derek Denton AC, Harold Mitchell AC, Peter Jopling AM KC, Andrew and Liz Mackenzie, Patricia Patten, Tamie Fraser AO, Bruce Parncutt and Robin Campbell, Lauraine Diggins, Steven Skala AO and Lousje Skala 2017

Margaret Whitlam

Open Air

Portraits in the Landscape
Previous exhibition, 2008

Open Air is an exhibition of portraits of Australians in environments of particular significance to them.

Ruby (left view), 2022 Shea Kirk

National Photographic Portrait Prize 2023

Previous exhibition, 2023

The exhibition is selected from a national field of entries, reflecting the distinctive vision of Australia's aspiring and professional portrait photographers and the unique nature of their subjects.

Andy Thomas

Uncommon Australians

The vision of Gordon and Marilyn Darling
Previous exhibition, 2015

This exhibition showcases portraits acquired through the generosity of the National Portrait Gallery’s Founding Patrons, L Gordon Darling AC CMG and Marilyn Darling AC.

Elizabeth (Murray) 2000

Extremely generous and incredibly close

Magazine article by Michael Desmond, 2010

Michael Desmond examines the daguerreotype portraits created by American artist Chuck Close.

Self portrait with glove

To Look Within

Self Portraits in Australia
Previous exhibition, 2004

This exhibition is the first comprehensive survey of self-portraits in Australia, from the colonial period to the present

Installing David Walsh

On the road again

Magazine article by Dr Deborah Hill, 2017

Deborah Hill talks figures with character, as the National Portrait Gallery touring exhibitions program welcomes its millionth visitor.

Karen Gillan, 2010

Hot Scots

Magazine article by Christopher Baker, 2013

James Holloway describes the first portraits you encounter when entering the Scottish National Portrait Gallery.

Bon Scott & Angus Young, Atlanta, Georgia

No shirt, no service

Magazine article by Dr Sarah Engledow, 2010

Bon Scott and Angus Young photographed by Rennie Ellis are part of a display celebrating summer and images of the shirtless male.

George and Jemima Billet with family

Costantini's convictions

Magazine article by Joanna Gilmour, 2017

Jo Gilmour uncovers endearing authenticity in the art of a twice-transported Tasmanian.

Barbara Blackman

Life class

Magazine article by Leonie Hellmers, 2004

Barbara Blackman reflects on her experiences as a life model.

dumb & dumber from The Imponderable Archive, 2013 Samuel Hodge

Everything, everyqueer, all at once

Magazine article by Bradley Vincent, 2022

Bradley Vincent considers Samuel Hodge’s use of the archive to create a queer vernacular of portraiture.

Indexing, the art of

About Face article

The first index I created was for my first book, and, to my astonishment, that was almost twenty-five years ago.

Writing on the Wall, 2019 Dr Christian Thompson AO

To arrive at hope

NPPP 2020 exhibition essay
General content

Penelope Grist, National Photographic Portrait Prize judge and curator, introduces the 2020 Prize.

Waterfall in Australia, c. 1830 by Augustus Earle

Augustus serendipitous

Magazine article by Joanna Gilmour, 2016

The London-born son of an American painter, Augustus Earle ended up in Australia by accident in January 1825. 

Christmas Island

About Face article

This is my last Trumbology before, in a little more than a week from now, I pass to my successor Karen Quinlan the precious baton of the Directorship of the National Portrait Gallery.

Nannultera, a young cricketer of the Natives' Training Institution, Poonindie , 1854 John Michael Crossland

The catechist and the cricketer

Magazine article by Stephen Valambras Graham, 2021

Stephen Valambras Graham traverses the intriguing socio-political terrain behind two iconic First Nations portraits of the 1850s.

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Portrait Donors

Listed by year
Honour board
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.

The Writer, Peter Goldsworthy

Off grid

Magazine article by Aimee Board, 2019

Aimee Board ventures within and beyond to consider two remarkable new Gallery acquisitions.

Helen Blaxland judging flower arrangements, c. 1940s photographer unknown

Petal to the mettle

Magazine article by Dr Sarah Engledow, 2019

Sarah Engledow lauds the very civil service of Dame Helen Blaxland.

Patrick Ryan, 1968 by Mark Strizic

The silent partner

Magazine article by Dr Sarah Engledow, 2015

One half of the team that was Eltham Films left scarcely a trace in the written historical record, but survives in a vivid portrait.

Self portrait

Rick Amor: 21 Portraits

General content

Sarah Engledow chronicles Rick Amor's work and accomplishments in this extensive essay in conjunction with the exhibition Rick Amor: 21 Portraits.

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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 past and present. We respectfully advise that this site includes works by, images of, names of, voices of and references to deceased people.

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