Skip to main content
Menu

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.

Stephen Ridgeway and Stephen Russell
Stephen Ridgeway and Stephen Russell
Stephen Ridgeway and Stephen Russell

Stephen Ridgeway and Stephen Russell, c. 2000

Penny Tweedie
Portrait, type C photograph on paper

Collection: National Portrait Gallery
Gift of the artist 2004

Osher, 2018 by Stephen Baccon

Osher, 2018

by Stephen Baccon
Image
Owen Yalandja, 2009 by Stephen Oxenbury

Owen Yalandja, 2009

by Stephen Oxenbury
Image
Woman, child and a parrot, 2012 by Stephen Dupont

Woman, child and a parrot, 2012

by Stephen Dupont
Image
Stephen Murray-Smith

Stephen Murray-Smith

In their own words
In their own words

Recorded 1961

Catholic clergymen from the Diocese of Adelaide
Catholic clergymen from the Diocese of Adelaide
Catholic clergymen from the Diocese of Adelaide

Catholic clergymen from the Diocese of Adelaide, c. 1862

Stephen Edward Nixon
Portrait, carte de visite photograph

Purchased 2018

Recollections of a sinologist sitter

Magazine article by Professor Stephen FitzGerald AO, 2016

Professor Stephen Fitzgerald, Australia’s first Ambassador to China, traces the historical course from sino-australian cultural engagement to a maturing Australian identity.

Charles Teo

Charlie's angles

Magazine article by Stephen Phillips, 2017

Stephen Phillips talks to neurosurgeon Charlie Teo about his practice, perspectives and the anatomy of hope.

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.

Adam Cullen, 2008 by Stephen Oxenbury

Adam Cullen, 2008

by Stephen Oxenbury
Image
Untitled, 2020 Steph Fuller

The look and the feel

Living Memory exhibition essay
General content

Editor Stephen Phillips looks at the finalists' photographs through a judge's lens.

Chet Baker, singer, New York City, January 16, 1986 by Richard Avedon

The existential lens

Magazine article by Stephen Zagala, 2013

Stephen Zagala discusses Richard Avedon’s work from an Australian perspective.

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

Dr Stephen Fitzgerald
Dr Stephen Fitzgerald
Dr Stephen Fitzgerald

Dr Stephen Fitzgerald, late 1970s

Louis Kahan AO
Portrait, pencil on paper

Collection: National Portrait Gallery
Gift of Mrs Lily Kahan 2006
Donated through the Australian Government's Cultural Gifts Program

"Lao Fei" Stephen FitzGerald, 2003

Dalu Zhao
Portrait, oil on canvas

Collection: National Portrait Gallery
Gift of Dalu Zhao 2011
Donated through the Australian Government's Cultural Gifts Program

Sir Ninian Stephen
Sir Ninian Stephen
Sir Ninian Stephen

Sir Ninian Stephen, 1984

Louis Kahan AO
Portrait, fibre-tipped pen on paper

Collection: National Portrait Gallery
Gift of Mrs Lily Kahan 2017
Donated through the Australian Government's Cultural Gifts Program

Alfred Stephen
Alfred Stephen
Alfred Stephen

Alfred Stephen, 1885

William Macleod after Newman
Portrait, tinted lithograph on paper

Collection: National Portrait Gallery
Purchased 2015

Miles and Arkie, 2015 by Clint Peloso

Shop Talk

Magazine article by Stephen Phillips, 2016

Angus and the arbiters talk (photo) shop for the National Photographic Portrait Prize.

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.

Stephen and Russell Page
Stephen and Russell Page
Stephen and Russell Page

Stephen and Russell Page, 1993 (printed 2011)

Robert Rosen
Portrait, gelatin silver photograph on paper

Gift of Robert Rosen 2012

Stephen, Russell and David Page
Stephen, Russell and David Page
Stephen, Russell and David Page

Stephen, Russell and David Page, c. 2000

Penny Tweedie
Portrait, type C photograph on paper

Collection: National Portrait Gallery
Gift of the artist 2004

Stephen Dupont, 2018 by Simon Harsent

Stephen Dupont, 2018

by Simon Harsent
Image
Stephen and Angelo, 2021 George Fetting

Stephen and Angelo

George Fetting
Image
Portrait of Louise Forthun in front of a Stephen Bram
Portrait of Louise Forthun in front of a Stephen Bram
Portrait of Louise Forthun in front of a Stephen Bram

Portrait of Louise Forthun in front of a Stephen Bram, 1992

Angela Brennan
Portrait, oil on canvas

Gift of the artist 2021. Donated through the Australian Government’s Cultural Gifts Program.

Stephen, Russell and David Page

Bangarra brothers: songman, storyteller, dancer

Passion

Creative kin

Sir Charles Nicholson
Sir Charles Nicholson
Sir Charles Nicholson

Sir Charles Nicholson, 1898

Elliott and Fry
Portrait, gelatin silver photograph on paper

Gift of Stephen Scheding and Jim Berry 2015

Steven Heathcote
Steven Heathcote
Steven Heathcote

Steven Heathcote, 2007

Julian Kingma
Portrait, type C photograph on paper

Gift of the artist 2008

Sunny day, 2019 Dalu Zhao

Sunny day, 2019

Dalu Zhao
Image
Some lads #1
Some lads #1
Some lads #1

Some lads #1, 1986

Tracey Moffatt
Portrait, gelatin silver photograph on paper

Gift of the artist 1998. Donated through the Australian Government's Cultural Gifts Program.

Get Wet series (Martin Plaza), 1979 Paul Worstead

Get Wet series (Martin Plaza)

Paul Worstead
Image
Get Wet series (Peter O'Doherty), 1979 Paul Worstead

Get Wet series (Peter O'Doherty)

Paul Worstead
Image
Get Wet series (Reg Mombassa), 1979 Paul Worstead

Get Wet series (Reg Mombassa)

Paul Worstead
Image
Get Wet series (Greedy Smith), 1979 Paul Worstead

Get Wet series (Greedy Smith)

Paul Worstead
Image
Get Wet series (David Twohill), 1979 Paul Worstead

Get Wet series (David Twohill)

Paul Worstead
Image
image not online

Peter Porter, 2004

Tony Clark
Portrait, synthetic polymer paint and permanent marker on canvas

Purchased with funds provided by the Basil Bressler Bequest 2004

Opening of the First Legislative Council of Victoria by Governor Charles Joseph LaTrobe at St Patrick's Hall, Bourke Street West, Melbourne November 13th 1851

Magna Carta

About Face article

On this day eight hundred years ago at Runnymede near Windsor, King John signed Magna Carta.

Portrait of Bennilong, a Native of New Holland
Portrait of Bennilong, a Native of New Holland
Portrait of Bennilong, a Native of New Holland

Portrait of Bennilong, a Native of New Holland, c. 1810

an unknown artist
Portrait, engraving on paper

Purchased 2014

David Gulpilil
David Gulpilil
David Gulpilil

David Gulpilil, c. 1981

Juno Gemes
Portrait, inkjet print on paper

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

What the tree saw: David Foster
What the tree saw: David Foster
What the tree saw: David Foster

What the tree saw: David Foster, 2018

Jacqui Stockdale
Portrait, inkjet print and oil on canvas, mounted with inset axe pendant

Commissioned with funds provided by the Sid and Fiona Myer Family Foundation 2018

Yami Lester speaks at Uluru Handback Ceremony
Yami Lester speaks at Uluru Handback Ceremony
Yami Lester speaks at Uluru Handback Ceremony

Yami Lester speaks at Uluru Handback Ceremony, 1985 (printed 2003)

Juno Gemes
Portrait, gelatin silver photograph on paper

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

Edward Henty
Edward Henty
Edward Henty

Edward Henty, late 19th century

an unknown artist
Portrait, oil on canvas

Collection: National Portrait Gallery
Gift of Tim Clark 2018

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

Portrait of Bennilong, Native of New Holland
Portrait of Bennilong, Native of New Holland
Portrait of Bennilong, Native of New Holland

Portrait of Bennilong, Native of New Holland, c. 1798

an unknown artist
Portrait, engraving on paper

Collection: National Portrait Gallery
Purchased with funds provided by Ross A Field 2008

George Gregan
George Gregan
George Gregan

George Gregan, 1999 (printed 2001)

Peter Brew-Bevan
Portrait, type C photograph on paper

Purchased 2001

Thomas and John Clarke, bushrangers, photographed in Braidwood Gaol
Thomas and John Clarke, bushrangers, photographed in Braidwood Gaol
Thomas and John Clarke, bushrangers, photographed in Braidwood Gaol

Thomas and John Clarke, bushrangers, photographed in Braidwood Gaol, 1867

an unknown artist
Portrait, albumen silver photograph on laid down on a section cut from a nineteenth century album page

Purchased 2019

Gulpilil (David) Dreaming - Kakadu 2006
Gulpilil (David) Dreaming - Kakadu 2006
Gulpilil (David) Dreaming - Kakadu 2006

Gulpilil (David) Dreaming - Kakadu 2006, 2006

George Fetting
Portrait, type C photograph on paper

Gift of the artist 2008

Portait 65

Portrait 65

Autumn/Winter 2021
Magazine

Hugh Ramsay, the fashion of Jenny Kee and Linda Jackson, Peter Wegner's centenarian series, John and Elizabeth Gould's family connections, Karen Quinlan's top five portraits and more.

Meryl Tankard

Dancer

Touring exhibition, 2024

From letting loose in the loungeroom to enthralling audiences on stage, this exhibition celebrates dance and dancers.

Decorative portrait – Len Lye, c.1925 by Rayner Hoff (1894-1937)

Presence and Absence

Portrait Sculpture in Australia
Previous exhibition, 2003

This exhibition focuses on exploring national and communal identity through sculptural production in Australia, from the early decades of settlement through to the present day

Jacob Nash
Jacob Nash
Jacob Nash

Jacob Nash, 2017

Ingvar Kenne
Portrait, inkjet print on paper

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

David Gulpilil, Arnhem Land
David Gulpilil, Arnhem Land
David Gulpilil, Arnhem Land

David Gulpilil, Arnhem Land, 1981 (printed 2000)

David Moore
Portrait, type C photograph on paper

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

Russell Page in Venice
Russell Page in Venice
Russell Page in Venice

Russell Page in Venice, 1997

Brenda L Croft
Portrait, triptych of type C photographs on paper

Purchased 2002

Axe Me Biggie

Axe Me Biggie

Magazine article by Stephen Dupont, 2008

Australian photojournalist Stephen Dupont's Afghanistan project captures the human experience of a country in reconstruction.

So Fine catalogue

National Portrait Gallery takes out top gong in MAPDA awards

16 May 2019
Archived media releases 2019

The National Portrait Gallery is thrilled to be named the winner of the Museums Australasia Multimedia and Publication Design Awards in the category of exhibition major catalogue level B, for our publication So Fine: Contemporary women artists make Australian history.

Frog Hunter, Damien Wurrkidj, 2011 by Matthew Abbott

Matthew Abbott

NPPP 2012 learning resource

An interview with the photographer.

Akira Isogawa

Peter Brew-Bevan Portraits

Previous exhibition, 2005

In this exhibition Sydney based photographer Peter Brew-Bevan brings together an intimate collection of works that highlight his passion for the genre of portraiture over the last 10 years

Malcolm Fraser

Country man

Magazine article by Angus Trumble, 2015

Angus Trumble’s tribute to the late Right Honourable Malcolm Fraser.

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.

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.

The Right Honourable Sir Ninian Stephen KGAK GCMG GCVO KBE QC, 2006 by Rick Amor

Prima facie

Magazine article by Dr Sarah Engledow, 2019

Sarah Engledow casts a judicious eye over portraits in the Victorian Bar’s Peter O’Callaghan QC Portrait Gallery.

Creator versus character - Chris Lilley

How to be a boy

Magazine article by Dr Christopher Chapman, 2011

Christopher Chapman profiles Chris Lilley, actor and creator of Angry Boys.

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.

What the tree saw: David Foster

What the tree saw: David Foster, 2018

by Jacqui Stockdale
General content

Commissioned with funds provided by the Sid and Fiona Myer Family Foundation 2018

Virginia Woolf, 1902 George Charles Beresford

Love my way

Magazine article by Inga Walton, 2022

Inga Walton delves into the bohemian group of artists and writers who used each other as muses and transformed British culture.

Portrait of Elizabeth Gould with a raptor, possibly a red-footed falcon (Falco vespertinus), painted in her lifetime Artist unknown

Birds of a feather

Magazine article by Annette Twyman, 2021

Charting a path from cockatiel to finch, Annette Twyman explores her family portraits and stories.

James, Rebecca and Sam Mapu

Time and light

In Gallery Seven
Previous exhibition, 2023

This sample of 56 photographs takes in some of the smallest photographs we own and some of the largest, some of the earliest and some of the most recent, as well as multiple photographic processes from daguerreotypes to digital media.

The vigil, 2011 by Anthony Anderton

Anthony Anderton

NPPP 2012 learning resource

An interview with the photographer.

Self Portrait in red shirt, 1937 by Arthur Boyd

Arthur as Alyosha?

Magazine article by Patrick McCaughey, 2015

Patrick McCaughey explores a striking Boyd self portrait.

Self Portrait with Stetson, 2011 by Darren McDonald

Painting them gently

Magazine article by Penelope Grist, 2015

Penny Grist on motivation, method and melancholy in the portraiture of Darren McDonald.

Jim Cobb at Chroma factory Mt Kuring-gai, NSW, 2017 by Mark Mohell

The alchemist’s profile

Magazine article by John Zubrzycki, 2017

John Zubrzycki meets Australian paint pioneer Jim Cobb.

The girls, 2017 by Tamara Dean

Snap decisions

Magazine article by Robert Cook, 2018

NPPP judge Robert Cook provides irreverent insight into this year’s fare, and having to be a bit judgemental.

Leigh Bowery in Fur Coat

Hyperversity

Magazine article by Dr Sarah Engledow, 2006

Dr Sarah Engledow writes about the larger-than-life Australian performance artist, Leigh Bowery.

Sisters, 2015 by André Brönnimann

Adam’s Prize Apples

Magazine article by Pamela Gerrish Nunn, 2016

Pamela Gerrish Nunn explores New Zealand’s premium award for portraiture.

Emily Kame Kngwarreye with Lily

Illuminating history

Magazine article by Joanna Gilmour, 2023

Joanna Gilmour reflects on 25 years of collecting at the National Portrait Gallery.

Nicholas Harding, 2016 Mark Mohell

Nicholas Harding

Explore The Popular Pet Show

Over the years the young Nicholas Harding got his hands on various mice and guinea pigs, but they served mainly to illustrate the concept of mortality. 

image not online

Portrait Donors

Listed by year
Honour board
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.

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.

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.

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.

© National Portrait Gallery 2024
King Edward Terrace, Parkes
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