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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.

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Roderick Shaw

In their own words
In their own words

Recorded 1965

Bee Miles
Bee Miles
Bee Miles

Bee Miles, 1976

Roderick Shaw
Portrait, charcoal on paper

Gift of Brian Griffin 2000

Lloyd Rees at the Rock in 1975
Lloyd Rees at the Rock in 1975
Lloyd Rees at the Rock in 1975

Lloyd Rees at the Rock in 1975, 1984

Roderick Shaw
Portrait, oil and oil pastel on canvas

Collection: National Portrait Gallery
Purchased 2001

Retired Mounted Policeman, 2012 by Paul Mallam

Retired Mounted Policeman, 2012

by Paul Mallam
Image
Sir Rod Carnegie
Sir Rod Carnegie
Sir Rod Carnegie

Sir Rod Carnegie, c. 1984

Joe Greenberg
Portrait, offset lithograph on mountboard/card

Collection: National Portrait Gallery
Gift of the artist 2001

Men of the Day No.14
Men of the Day No.14
Men of the Day No.14

Men of the Day No.14 "A Faithful Friend, an eminent Savant, and the best possible of Presidents" (Sir Roderick Murchison), 1870

Carlo Pellegrini, Vanity Fair Magazine
Portrait, chromolithograph on paper

Purchased 2015

Jordie, 2015 by Jeremy Shaw

Jordie, 2015

by Jeremy Shaw
Image
Chest piece, 2014 by Jeremy Shaw

Chest piece, 2014

by Jeremy Shaw
Image
What the world needs now is love, 2012 by Jeremy Shaw

What the world needs now is love, 2012

by Jeremy Shaw
Image
Tony Shaw
Tony Shaw
Tony Shaw

Tony Shaw, 2018

Sarah Rhodes
Portrait, gelatin silver photograph on dibond

Commissioned with funds from the Patrick Corrigan Portrait Commission Series 2018

Charles Warman Roberts
Charles Warman Roberts
Charles Warman Roberts

Charles Warman Roberts, 1878

George Baird Shaw
Portrait, watercolour on paper

Collection: National Portrait Gallery
Gift of the Thoms family 2011

Annie Roberts
Annie Roberts
Annie Roberts

Annie Roberts, 1878

George Baird Shaw
Portrait, watercolour on paper

Collection: National Portrait Gallery
Gift of Reg, Lesley, Glen and Paul Thoms 2011

Men of the Day No. 27
Men of the Day No. 27
Men of the Day No. 27

Men of the Day No. 27 "La Reyne le veult" (Sir John George Shaw-Lefevre), 1871

Carlo Pellegrini, Vanity Fair Magazine
Portrait, chromolithograph on paper

Purchased 2015

Gayfield Shaw
Gayfield Shaw
Gayfield Shaw

Gayfield Shaw, n.d.

Max Dupain OBE
Portrait, gelatin silver photograph on paper

Gift of Danina Dupain Anderson 2017. Donated through the Australian Government's Cultural Gifts Program.

Tony Shaw

Tony Shaw, 2018

by Sarah Rhodes
General content

Commissioned with funds from the Patrick Corrigan Portrait Commission Series 2018

Jack Charles

National Photographic Portrait Prize 2012

Previous exhibition, 2012

The National Photographic Portrait Prize exhibition is selected from a national field of entries that reflect the distinctive vision of Australia's aspiring and professional portrait photographers and the unique nature of their subjects.

Sir Ian Potter
Sir Ian Potter
Sir Ian Potter

Sir Ian Potter, 1968

Mark Strizic
Portrait, gelatin silver photograph on paper

Purchased with funds provided by Sir Roderick Carnegie 2003

Lost in thought, 2008 by Quentin Jones

Lost in thought, 2008

by Quentin Jones
Image
Douglas Carnegie
Douglas Carnegie
Douglas Carnegie

Douglas Carnegie, 1968

Mark Strizic
Portrait, gelatin silver photograph on paper

Collection: National Portrait Gallery
Purchased with funds provided by Sir Roderick Carnegie 2003

Sir Macfarlane Burnet
Sir Macfarlane Burnet
Sir Macfarlane Burnet

Sir Macfarlane Burnet, 1968

Mark Strizic
Portrait, gelatin silver photograph on paper

Purchased with funds provided by Sir Roderick Carnegie 2003

Robin Boyd
Robin Boyd
Robin Boyd

Robin Boyd, 1970

Mark Strizic
Portrait, gelatin silver photograph on paper

Collection: National Portrait Gallery
Purchased with funds provided by Sir Roderick Carnegie 2003

Portrait of Professor Graeme Clark

Portraits for Posterity

Previous exhibition, 2006

Drawn from some of the many donations made to the Gallery's collection, the exhibition Portraits for Posterity pays homage both to the remarkable (and varied) group of Australians who are portrayed in the portraits and the generosity of the many donors who have presented them to the Gallery.

The tennis player (Ken Rosewall)
The tennis player (Ken Rosewall)
The tennis player (Ken Rosewall)

The tennis player (Ken Rosewall), 2010

Sinead Davies
Portrait, oil on canvas

Collection: National Portrait Gallery
Gift of the artist 2010

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Donors

$10,000 - $49,999
Honour board
Brian Croser AO
Brian Croser AO
Brian Croser AO

Brian Croser AO, 1998

Kate Gollings
Portrait, gelatin silver photograph, selenium toned on paper

Collection: National Portrait Gallery
Purchased with funds provided by Marilyn Darling AC 2001

image not online

Supporters

$5,000 - $9,999
Honour board
Dr Peter Farrell

Giving and getting

Magazine article by Michael Desmond, 2006

The exhibition Portraits for Posterity celebrates gifts to the Gallery, of purchases made with donated funds, and testifies to the generosity and community spirit of Australians.

Self portrait
Self portrait
Self portrait

Self portrait, 1934

Nora Heysen AM
Portrait, oil on canvas

Purchased 1999

Sir Ian Potter

Mark Strizic

A Journey in Photography
Previous exhibition, 2004

This exhibition traces the creative output of nearly 50 years by one of Australia's landmark living photographers.

William Johnson (1873—1948) by Percy Leason

Recognition

Percy Leason's Aboriginal Portraits
Previous exhibition, 1999

Originally conceived as an anthropological record, Percy Leason’s powerful 1934 portraits of Victorian Aboriginal people are today considered to be a highlight of 20th century Australian portraiture

Li Cunxin

Twenty new portraits marking Portrait Gallery’s twentieth birthday

21 August 2018
Archived media releases 2018

To celebrate the National Portrait Gallery’s twentieth anniversary as an institution, twenty portraits of outstanding Australian individuals have been commissioned for the permanent collection. This is the largest undertaking for the Gallery’s commissioning program in its twenty-year existence.

Jessica Mauboy

National Portrait Gallery unveils twenty new portrait commissions to celebrate twenty years

18 October 2018
Archived media releases 2018

The National Portrait Gallery has unveiled twenty new portrait commissions of Australian leaders and individualists as part of its twentieth birthday celebrations in a new exhibition, 20/20: Celebrating twenty years with twenty new portrait commissions.

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

William Bligh

Old Blighty

Magazine article by Angus Trumble, 2016

Angus Trumble ponders the many faces of William Bligh.

Jacki Weaver

Flash mob

Magazine article by Dr Sarah Engledow, 2019

Sarah Engledow trains her exacting lens on the nine photographs from 20/20.

Cormac and Callum, 2008 by Ingvar Kenne

National Photographic Portrait Prize 2009

Previous exhibition, 2009

In its second year at the National Portrait Gallery, and for the first time touring to other venues, the National Photographic Portrait Prize 2009 continues to present surprising perspectives on the nature of contemporary portrait photography.

Lee Kernaghan near Broken Hill

Australian of the Year

Inspiring a Nation
Previous exhibition, 2010

The Australian of the Year Awards have often provoked controversy about who is selected and whether their achievements are remarkable.

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

Jessie Street

First Ladies

Significant Australian Women 1913–2013
Previous exhibition, 2013

First Ladies profiles women who have achieved noteworthy firsts over the past 100 years.

Blue Mountain, Owner, Trainer, Jockey, James Scobie

Sure thing

Magazine article by Michael Desmond, 2009

Blue Mountain, Owner, Trainer, Jockey, James Scobie 1887 by Frederick Woodhouse Snr. is a portrait of James Scobie, well known jockey and eminent horse trainer.

Marilyn Darling AC

Support Crew

Magazine article by Dr Christopher Chapman, 2011

Portraits of philanthropists in the collection honour their contributions to Australia and acknowledge their support of the National Portrait Gallery.

Some women you may not know, 2022-2023 Alison Alder

Some women you may not know

Alison Alder

‘Everybody’s lives are built by so many influences, and for me, it is writers, artists and activists who have influenced how I think about the world.’

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.

Rupert Murdoch

Corporate Characters

Magazine article by Gillian Raymond, 2005

A collection of thirty-seven caricatures by the artist Joe Greenberg capture the heroes and villians of Australian business in the 1980s.

Face of South Sudan, 2012 by Melanie Faith Dove

NPPP 2013 exhibition essay

General content

Joanna Gilmour, National Photographic Portrait Prize judge and curator, introduces the 2013 Prize.

Yhonnie and Indiana, 2012

Surface tension

Magazine article by Joanna Gilmour, 2013

Joanna Gilmour on the National Photographic Portrait Prize 2013.

Vanity Fair, April, 2004

International issue

Magazine article by Michael Desmond, 2009

Michael Desmond looks at the history of the Vanity Fair magazine in conjunction with the exhibition Vanity Fair Portraits: Photographs 1913-2008

Victor Trumper

Top shot that

Magazine article by Gideon Haigh, 2009

Gideon Haigh discusses portraits of Australian cricketers from the early 20th century

20/20 launch speech

About Face article

Dr Helen Nugent AO, Chairman, National Portrait Gallery at the opening of 20/20: Celebrating twenty years with twenty new portrait commissions.

Helena Rubinstein in a red brocade Balenciaga gown

Study in scarlet

Magazine article by Angus Trumble, 2018

Angus Trumble reflects on the force of nature that was Helena Rubinstein.

Helen Borthwick née Pearson

The personal and the historical

About Face article

Where do we draw a line between the personal and the historical? Although she died in Melbourne in 1975, when I was not quite eleven years old, I have the vividest memories of my maternal grandmother Helen Borthwick.

© National Portrait Gallery 2024
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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