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Australia (Sir Edmund Barton), 1902

Gift of Mr Ronald Walker 2001

A magnificent rivalry

Alexander (Jock) Sturrock and Alan Bond

Capital Cool

Outsiders tend to give Canberra a bad rap: sterile, plagued by politicians, a comatose capital for professionals and academics. Nick Cave once said he didn’t like the city because there were too many punks.

Bon Scott & Angus Young, Atlanta, Georgia, 1978 (printed 2010)

Purchased 2010

Oz Rock

Two of the music industry’s highest-selling performers originated in suburban Australia. The Bee Gees started out in Brisbane, for instance, and AC/DC played their first gigs at a nightclub in inner Sydney.

Oz Origins

Australia’s passion for rock ‘n roll was kindled by American and British acts in the 1950s and 60s. The novel genre’s driving, licentious rhythms and voices captured imaginations and libidos, not to mention aspiring young musicians.

Sketch of Clifton Pugh painting John Perceval, 1985

Collection: National Portrait Gallery
Gift of the artist 2016

Recognition

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

References

About the exhibition curator Claire Roberts, and writers Eugene Wang and Zhang Letian.

I walk the line

Bruce Petty's animated self portrait captures a life's journey compressed into a few minutes.

The intellectual larrikin

Barrie Cassidy pays textured tribute to the inimitable Bob Hawke.

Portrait Donors

School portraits

Inga Walton sheds light on a portraiture collection usually only seen by students and teachers at Melbourne University.