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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.

Call Me Daddy, 2014 by Claire Wilson

Call Me Daddy, 2014

by Claire Wilson
Image
Tempe Manning Self-portrait 1939

A potpourri of portraits

Magazine article by Natalie Wilson, 2023

Archie 100 curator (and detective) Natalie Wilson’s nationwide search for Archibald portraits unearthed the fascinating stories behind some long-lost treasures.

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Fuzzy Leo (Leo Schofield), c. 2000

Martin Wilson
Portrait, woven shag pile rug

Gift of Nell Schofield 2020. Donated through the Australian Government's Cultural Gifts Program.

The Boss, Ross Wilson
The Boss, Ross Wilson
The Boss, Ross Wilson

The Boss, Ross Wilson, 2009

Chris Budgeon
Portrait, type C photograph on paper

Collection: National Portriat Gallery
Gift of the artist 2011

Eagle Ross (Ross Wilson)
Eagle Ross (Ross Wilson)
Eagle Ross (Ross Wilson)

Eagle Ross (Ross Wilson), 2005

Tessa Jones
Portrait, oil on canvas

Collection: National Portrait Gallery
Purchased 2005

Shona Wilson
Shona Wilson
Shona Wilson

Shona Wilson, 1998

Greg Weight
Portrait, gelatin silver photograph on paper

Gift of Patrick Corrigan AM 2004. Donated through the Australian Government's Cultural Gifts Program.

Captain Wilson
Captain Wilson
Captain Wilson

Captain Wilson, 1819

Freeman, T Hamilton
Portrait, Engraving on paper

Collection: National Portrait Gallery
Gift of Ted and Gina Gregg 2012

Margaret Wilson
Margaret Wilson
Margaret Wilson

Margaret Wilson, 1990

Anne Zahalka
Portrait, type C Duraflex print on paper

Gift of Leo Christie 2003. Donated through the Australian Government's Cultural Gifts Program.

Toby Wilson, Murwillumbah
Toby Wilson, Murwillumbah
Toby Wilson, Murwillumbah

Toby Wilson, Murwillumbah, 1966 (printed 2000)

David Moore
Portrait, type C 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.

Daddy Cool, Melbourne

Now Listen...

Magazine article by Simon Elliott, 2005

Artist Tessa Jones recalls creating her portrait of Daddy Cool and Mondo Rock singer and music producer, Ross Wilson.

Julian Rossi Ashton
Julian Rossi Ashton
Julian Rossi Ashton

Julian Rossi Ashton, 1933

Eric Wilson
Portrait, charcoal on paper

Collection: National Portrait Gallery
Gift of Philip Bacon AM 2012

William Hardy Wilson at Purulia, Warrawee
William Hardy Wilson at Purulia, Warrawee
William Hardy Wilson at Purulia, Warrawee

William Hardy Wilson at Purulia, Warrawee, 1921 (printed by Max Dupain 1981)

Harold Cazneaux, Max Dupain OBE
Portrait, gelatin silver photograph on paper

Gift of the Simpson Family in memory of Caroline Simpson OAM 2008. Donated through the Australian Government's Cultural Gifts Program.

a squatter (Sir Samuel Wilson)
a squatter (Sir Samuel Wilson)
a squatter (Sir Samuel Wilson)

a squatter (Sir Samuel Wilson), 1885

Sir Leslie Ward, Vanity Fair Magazine
Portrait, chromolithograph on paper

Gift of Mr Ronald Walker 2001

Daddy Cool, Melbourne
Daddy Cool, Melbourne
Daddy Cool, Melbourne

Daddy Cool, Melbourne, 1974

Rennie Ellis
Portrait, gelatin silver photograph, selenium toned on paper

Purchased 2005

Orlando and Wilson, 2021 Chris Budgeon

Orlando and Wilson

Chris Budgeon
Image
Cowboy Wilson, Birds, 2009 by Tobias Rowles

Cowboy Wilson, Birds, 2009

by Tobias Rowles
Image
Regina Pilawuk Wilson, Nuova Gibellina, 2019 Tim Hillier

Regina Pilawuk Wilson, Nuova Gibellina, 2019

Tim Hillier
Image
Marcie Elizabeth Wilson
Marcie Elizabeth Wilson
Marcie Elizabeth Wilson

Marcie Elizabeth Wilson, 1922

George Lambert
Portrait, pencil on paper

Gift of the Simpson family in memory of Caroline Simpson OAM 2008. Donated through the Australian Government's Cultural Gifts Program.

The Hon. Edward Gough Whitlam by Martin Wilson

Fuzzy Prime Ministers of Australia

Previous exhibition, 2001

In the one hundred years since Federation, Australia has produced twenty-five Prime Ministers of all shapes, shades and sizes

Charles, 2015 by Amiel Courtin-Wilson, video: 7 minutes

Charles, 2015

by Amiel Courtin-Wilson
General content

Winner, DPA 2016

Charles, 2015 by Amiel Courtin-Wilson, video: 7 minutes

Digital Portraiture Award 2016

Previous exhibition, 2016

An annual event to extend traditional notions of portraiture and foster emerging artists with an interest in new technology.

Death mask of George Melville courtesy of National Trust of Australia (Victoria), Old Melbourne Gaol Collection

A colourful story from Sideshow Alley

Infamy, the macabre & the portrait
About Face article

From infamous bushranger to oyster shop display, curator Jo Gilmour explores the life of George Melville.

Robert, 2010 by CJ Taylor

Robert, 2010

by CJ Taylor
Image
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Icons Syndicate

Lists alphabetically
Honour board
Sir Mark Oliphant
Sir Mark Oliphant
Sir Mark Oliphant

Sir Mark Oliphant, 1939

Bassano Ltd
Portrait, gelatin silver photograph on paper

Collection: National Portrait Gallery
Gift of Ms Vivian Wilson 2004

Charles (still from video)  by Amiel Courtin-Wilson

The Winner of the Digital Portraiture Award 2016 is...

2 December 2016
Archived media releases 2016

The winner of the Digital Portraiture Award 2016 has been announced. Congratulations to Amiel Courtin-Wilson for his submission titled Charles.

Lee Kernaghan near Broken Hill

Milestones

About Face article

This month I turn fifty, soI am just now looking rather more closely than usual at Fiona Foley, Steven Heathcote, Brenda Croft, Russell Crowe, Jeff Fenech, Akira Isogawa, Lee Kernaghan, My Le Thi, Shona Wilson and Mark Taylor AO, mindful that they too were 1964 arrivals. 

William Hodges RA
William Hodges RA
William Hodges RA

William Hodges RA, 1808 (dated 1810)

William Daniell after George Dance
Portrait, etching on paper

Purchased 2010

The Delltones
The Delltones
The Delltones

The Delltones, 1964 (printed 2019)

Ern McQuillan OAM
Portrait, gelatin silver photograph on paper

Collection: National Portrait Gallery
Purchased 2019

David Campese II

Sporting Archibald

Previous exhibition, 2000
Celebrating the focus on sport during 2000, this special exhibition features our national sporting heroes and heroines immortalised on canvas
Charles Summers
Charles Summers
Charles Summers

Charles Summers, late 1860s

Batchelder & Company Photo
Portrait, albumen paper carte de visite

Collection: National Portrait Gallery
Purchased with funds provided by Graham Smith 2009

Study for
Study for
Study for

Study for "Portrait of the artist as an evolving landscape", 1991

James Gleeson
Portrait, pencil, charcoal and paper collage on paper

Collection: National Portrait Gallery
Gift of Ray Wilson OAM in memory of James Agapitos OAM 2011
Donated through the Australian Government's Cultural Gifts Program

Self portrait
Self portrait
Self portrait

Self portrait, 1965

Jean Appleton
Portrait, oil on masonite

Gift of the Estate of Nicolaas van der Waarden 2013

Florence Austral
Florence Austral
Florence Austral

Florence Austral, c. 1930

Howard Barron
Portrait, oil on canvas

Gift of the University of Newcastle (Australia) 2007

Sir Mark Oliphant
Sir Mark Oliphant
Sir Mark Oliphant

Sir Mark Oliphant, c. 1948

Lotte Meitner-Graf
Portrait, gelatin silver photograph on paper

Collection: National Portrait Gallery
Gift of Ms Vivian Wilson 2004

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.

Portrait 69

Portrait 69

Magazine

In conversation with Aretha Brown, Pieter Roelofs on Vermeer, humanoid robots, the nationwide search for Archibald portraits, and 25 years of collecting at the National Portrait Gallery.

Orlando and Wilson, 2021 Chris Budgeon

People are people

Magazine article by Sandra Bruce, 2022

Sandra Bruce chats with seven-time NPPP finalist Chris Budgeon about photography, guitars and representing the human story.

Florence Austral

Pretty in peach

Magazine article by Joanna Gilmour, 2008
It's remarkable that the inner Melbourne suburb of Richmond has produced two of Australia's most successful opera singers. Three decades apart, but within a short distance of each other, both Helen Porter Mitchell and Florence Wilson were born.
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Supporters

$5,000 - $9,999
Honour board
John Pascoe Fawkner
John Pascoe Fawkner
John Pascoe Fawkner

John Pascoe Fawkner, c. 1867

Batchelder & Company Photo
Portrait, albumen photograph on carte de visite

Collection: National Portrait Gallery
Purchased 2008

Richard Henry Horne
Richard Henry Horne
Richard Henry Horne

Richard Henry Horne, mid 1860s

Batchelder & Company Photo
Portrait, albumen paper carte de visite

Collection: National Portrait Gallery
Purchased with funds provided by Graham Smith 2009

Dan Sultan

Dan the man

Magazine article by India Bednall, 2015

Martin Philbey’s portrait of Dan Sultan.

Silent Strength, 2021 Wayne Quilliam

National Photographic Portrait Prize 2022

Previous exhibition, 2022

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.

Frank Lowy
Frank Lowy
Frank Lowy

Frank Lowy, 1998 (printed 2011)

Lorrie Graham
Portrait, gelatin silver photograph on paper

Collection: National Portrait Gallery
Purchased 2011

Mr Movies - Bill Collins OAM
Mr Movies - Bill Collins OAM
Mr Movies - Bill Collins OAM

Mr Movies - Bill Collins OAM, 2009

Evert Ploeg
Portrait, oil on linen

Gift of Joan Collins and the Todd-Wilson family in memory of Bill Collins 2019. Donated through the Australian Government's Cultural Gifts Program.

The mahi-mahi, 2019 Rob Palmer

National Photographic Portrait Prize 2020

Previous exhibition, 2020

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.

Hugo at home (Hugo Weaving)

Nicholas Harding

28 Portraits
Previous exhibition, 2017

Nicholas Harding: 28 portraits features paintings of Robert Drewe, John Bell and Hugo Weaving alongside gorgeously coloured recent oil portraits, delicate gouaches and bold ink and charcoal drawings.

Ned Kelly death mask

Sideshow Alley

Infamy, the macabre & the portrait
Previous exhibition, 2015

Death masks, post-mortem drawings and other spooky and disquieting portraits... Come and see how portraits of infamous Australians were used in the 19th century.

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

James Baldwin, writer, Harlem, New York 1945 by Richard Avedon

The Avedon effect

Magazine article by Dr Christopher Chapman, 2013

Dr Christopher Chapman explores how we can understand Richard Avedon's photographs.  

Martin Schoeller 2008

The God-shaped hole

Magazine article by Michael Desmond, 2010

Exploring the photographs of Martin Schoeller, Michael Desmond delves into the uneasy pact that exists between celebrity and the camera.

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Portrait Donors

Listed by year
Honour board
Little John of Colchester, a poor lunatic, c.1823 by John Dempsey

Dempsey's people

About Face article

Those of you who are active in social media circles may be aware that through the past week I have unleashed a blitz on Facebook and Instagram in connection with our new winter exhibition Dempsey’s People: A Folio of British Street Portraits, 1824−1844.

Dave Graney

Naked nostalgia

Magazine article by Penelope Grist, 2016

Penelope Grist reminisces about the halcyon days of a print icon, before the infusion of the internet’s shades of grey.

Portrait of Mary MacKillop c 1873

The Saint and the merchant

Magazine article by Dr Sarah Engledow, 2010

Emanuel Solomon gave shelter to the Sisters of St Joseph upon the excommunication of St Mary MacKillop.

Ned Kelly death mask

Getting a head

Magazine article by Alexandra Roginski, 2015

Alexandra Roginski gets a feel for phrenology’s fundamentals.

Lindy Lee

The long game

Magazine article by Penelope Grist, 2020

Penelope Grist spends some quality time with the Portrait Gallery’s summer collection exhibition, Eye to Eye.

George Tjungurrayi

Two painters

Magazine article by Dr Christopher Chapman, 2007

Chris Chapman explains how Matthys Gerber bridges the gap between abstraction and portraiture.

Skyhooks (Red Symons, Bob Starkie, Shirley Strachan, Greg Macainsh, Freddie Strauks) in Parker’s studio, Fitzroy, 1975 David Parker

Cool cool world

Magazine article by Penelope Grist, 2022

Penelope Grist unpacks photographs by David Parker, who captured the phenomenal emergence of the 1970s and 80s Melbourne music scene.

Surfing, Noosa, 1970s Stuart Spence

The play’s the thing

About Face article

Penelope Grist charts an immersive path through Stuart Spence’s photography.

Portrait of George Selth Coppin

The Multifarious Career of George Selth Coppin

Magazine article by Dr Sarah Engledow, 2004

George Selth Coppin (1819-1906) comedian, impresario and entrepreneur, was a driving force of the early Australian theatre.

Self portrait

In good company

Magazine article by Joanna Gilmour, 2015

Jean Appleton’s 1965 self portrait makes a fine addition to the National Portrait Gallery’s collection writes Joanna Gilmour.

Henry Lawson

Regarding Henrys

Magazine article by Dr Sarah Engledow, 2015

Sarah Engledow ponders the divergent legacies of Messrs Kendall and Lawson.

An evening at Yarra Cottage, Port Stephens

Maria Caroline Brownrigg

About Face article

At first glance, this small watercolour group portrait of her two sons and four daughters by Maria Caroline Brownrigg (d. 1880) may seem prosaic, even hesitant

© National Portrait Gallery 2024
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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.

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