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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.

What's on

Wednesday 7 May – Saturday 24 May 2025

Paradise won, 2024 Ryan Presley
Paradise won, 2024 Ryan Presley
Paradise won, 2024 Ryan Presley
Paradise won, 2024 Ryan Presley

Ryan Presley: Paradise won

On view until May 2025

Marri Ngarr artist Ryan Presley's site-specific commission Paradise won is prominently positioned at the Gallery’s entrance. This ambitious new work invites conversations about the ongoing legacies of colonisation and celebrates First Nations survival and autonomy.

Deborah Mailman
Deborah Mailman
Deborah Mailman
Deborah Mailman

Gallery Two

Open every day
Visitors in front of The Quickening, 2022 (detail) Ying Ang
Visitors in front of The Quickening, 2022 (detail) Ying Ang
Visitors in front of The Quickening, 2022 (detail) Ying Ang
Visitors in front of The Quickening, 2022 (detail) Ying Ang

Guided Tour

The art of portraiture

11:00am, Daily until Sat 31 May

Learn about the architecture of the building before journeying through the Gallery to hear about the lives and legacies of the portrait subjects and the artistic techniques used to tell their stories.

Bookings required
Visitors in front of where will the story take us, 2002-2024 (printed 2024) Katrin Koenning.
Visitors in front of where will the story take us, 2002-2024 (printed 2024) Katrin Koenning.
Visitors in front of where will the story take us, 2002-2024 (printed 2024) Katrin Koenning.
Visitors in front of where will the story take us, 2002-2024 (printed 2024) Katrin Koenning.

Introduction tour

Welcome highlights

2:00pm, Daily until Sat 31 May

Join a short introductory tour of the National Portrait Gallery and discover a few key portraits.

Bookings available
Albert and Vincent
Albert and Vincent
Albert and Vincent
Albert and Vincent

Gallery Three

Exhibition closes 22 June

Gallery Three features major new acquisitions, collection highlights and favourites.

Drawing in the Gallery
Drawing in the Gallery
Drawing in the Gallery
Drawing in the Gallery

Drawn In

The Composer's Canvas

Selected Sundays in Autumn

Join us for a new iteration of Drawn in this autumn. The Composer’s Canvas is a series of drawing sessions once a month at the Gallery.

People viewing portraits in Gallery One
People viewing portraits in Gallery One
People viewing portraits in Gallery One
People viewing portraits in Gallery One

Portraits together

For people living with dementia

10:30 – 11:30am, Second Monday of the month

We offer a free, tailor-made program for small groups of people living with dementia and their friends, families or carers.

Bookings required
Thom Roberts with Burt the Oscar Train 2017 and cushion cover
Thom Roberts with Burt the Oscar Train 2017 and cushion cover
Thom Roberts with Burt the Oscar Train 2017 and cushion cover
Thom Roberts with Burt the Oscar Train 2017 and cushion cover

The Immersive World of Thom Roberts

Exhibition closes 20 July
Children participating in Little Faces
Children participating in Little Faces
Children participating in Little Faces
Children participating in Little Faces

Little Faces

10:30am, Wed 14 May

Do we have a treat for the smaller humans in your life! Little Faces is for babies and toddlers (with their grown up) to play, sing and have fun discovering a portrait together.

Bookings required
Children participating in Little Faces
Children participating in Little Faces
Children participating in Little Faces
Children participating in Little Faces

Little Faces

10:30am, Thu 15 May

Do we have a treat for the smaller humans in your life! Little Faces is for babies and toddlers (with their grown up) to play, sing and have fun discovering a portrait together.

Bookings required
Children participating in Little Faces
Children participating in Little Faces
Children participating in Little Faces
Children participating in Little Faces

Little Faces

9:30am, 10:30am, Fri 16 May

Do we have a treat for the smaller humans in your life! Little Faces is for babies and toddlers (with their grown up) to play, sing and have fun discovering a portrait together.

Bookings required

More events

Sunday 25 May – Wednesday 11 June 2025
© 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