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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

Jessica Mauboy

'Chaos and stillness'

Singer, songwriter and actress Jessica Mauboy with artist David Rosetzky.

Gordon Darling

Gordon Darling talks about how Jiawei Shen came to paint his portrait.

Nikki Toole

'Beauty and strength'

Photographer Nikki Toole describes the creation of her portrait of Rosie Batty.

Robert Drewe

An interview with Nicholas Harding

Artist Nicholas Harding talks about what was captured in his portrait of Robert Drewe.

Kate Grenville

'Making Stories'

Australian writer Kate Grenville discusses her career and portrait by Jenny Sages.

Mandyam Srinivasan

An interview with Professor of Visual Neuroscience, University of Queensland, Mandyam Srinivasan.

Portrait of Cate Blanchett

by David Rosetzky

David Rosetzky and Cate Blanchett talk about the creation of their video portrait.

Nicholas Harding

'A portrait of Hugo Weaving'

Artist Nicholas Harding talks about how he became interested in portraiture, and his motivation in painting Hugo Weaving.

David Chalmers

'Consciousness, iPhones and philosophical zombies'

Professor David Chalmers explains his interest in philosophy and introduces some of his theories on the conscious mind.

David Malouf

'The person who is the writer'

Australian author David Malouf discusses the creation of his portrait by artist Rick Amor.

Shane Maloney and Rick Amor

'Big canvas, small head'

Artist Rick Amor and author Shane Maloney relate divergent experiences of the creation of Shane's portrait.

William Bligh by John Webber video: 2 minutes

William Bligh

Twice rebelled against, and twice vindicated, William Bligh occupies an ambivalent space in Australian history. Angus Trumble, former Director of the National Portrait Gallery, explains.

The Hon. Michael Kirby AC CMG

'Radical Restraint'

The Hon. Michael Kirby AC CMG interviews the artist who painted his portrait, Ralph Heimans.

Kristin Headlam with Chris Wallace-Crabbe 'Poetry, painting and princesses', video: 3 minutes 9 seconds

Kristin Headlam with Chris Wallace-Crabbe

'Poetry, painting and princesses'

Artist Kristin Headlam and poet Chris Wallace-Crabbe discuss their art.

Quentin Bryce

'To change the world'

Australia's 25th Governor-General, Quentin Bryce, discusses her childhood, career paths and her portrait by Michael Zavros.

Marcia Langton, Brook Andrew and Trent Walter

Professor Marcia Langton, artist Brook Andrew and printer Trent Walter discuss the creation of Marcia's portrait.

© 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