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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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Portrait stories

David McAllister

'Complex stories without words'

Artistic Director of The Australian Ballet, David McAllister describes the trajectory of his relationship with dance.

Shane Gould

'Swimming is in my bones'

Shane Gould, Australian champion and Olympic gold medallist talks about her passion for swimming.

Betty Churcher

'Blockbuster Betty'

Betty Churcher discusses her career as the Director of the National Gallery of Australia.

Mark Richards

No choice, you’re going surfing, son

Australian surfing legend Mark Richards describes his professional surfing and surfboard shaping careers.

Glenn Murcutt

'Strength and delicacy'

Award-winning Australian architect, Glenn Murcutt describes the philosophy of his architectural practice and his minimalist portrait by Ken Done.

Rosie Batty

'Together we will give victims a voice and demand our leaders act'

The 2015 Australian of the Year talks about grief and searching for recognition of, and action on, domestic violence.

Michelle Simmons

Professor Michelle Simmons and photographer Selina Ou.

Rod McNicol

'Life and Times'

Echoing 19th-century photography, Rod McNicol's portraits give us a chance to look quietly at the human condition.

Tim Flannery by Robert Hannaford 'The space around', video: 3 minutes and 21 seconds

Tim Flannery by Robert Hannaford

'The space around'

Tim Flannery and artist Robert Hannaford discuss the creation of Tim's portrait.

Professor Graeme Clark

'Scientific creativity'

Creator of the bionic ear, the Cochlear Implant, Professor Graeme Clark discusses his life and career.

Bob Brown

In defence of the 'leech ridden ditch'

Bob Brown discusses the events that occurred during the Franklin River campaign as depicted in his portrait by Harold 'The Kangaroo' Thornton.

Brian Schmidt

'A celebration of science'

Astrophysicist, Nobel Prize laureate and Vice-Chancellor of the Australian National University, Professor Brian Schmidt chats about his career.

Captain Cook

'The photojournalists of their time'

An exploration of the role of artists such as John Webber who, whilst a member of Cook’s crew over many voyages, created paintings and drawings of the situations and people the explorers encountered.

Catherine Livingstone

A conversation between artist and subject

Businesswoman Catherine Livingstone and artist Mathew Lynn.

David Foster

'What the tree saw'

World champion woodcutter David Foster and artist Jacqui Stockdale.

Andrew Gaze video: 6 minutes 26 seconds

Andrew Gaze

Basketballer Andrew Gaze and photographer George Fetting.

© National Portrait Gallery 2025
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