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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.

Self-portrait with studio spirits, 2019

Kate Beynon

Darling Portrait Prize 2020 Finalist

Self-portrait with studio spirits, 2019

synthetic polymer paint on wood

This self-portrait contemplates life as a contemporary woman artist of mixed cultural identity, and the ongoing quest to explore ideas, channel creative energy, and balance art in life. The work also reflects a love of colour, textiles and fashion, and interest in translating imagery into wearable art forms. The studio spirits are part-inspired by various creatures and shape-shifters from mythic, supernatural and sci-fi tales, re-imagined to appear as unconventional guardian figures and talismans. The connecting of the earthly self with other-worldly figures aims to represent positive, hybrid visions, for current and future times.

Courtesy of the artist
© Kate Beynon/Copyright Agency, 2024

Darling Portrait Prize 2020
(More information, View all 40 paintings)

Sleep
Sunny day
Susie Porter
The Hon. Alex Chernov AC QC

Related information

Self-portrait with guardian spirits, 2009-2010 Kate Beynon
Self-portrait with guardian spirits, 2009-2010 Kate Beynon
Self-portrait with guardian spirits, 2009-2010 Kate Beynon
Self-portrait with guardian spirits, 2009-2010 Kate Beynon

Kate Beynon’s transcultural life and art

About Face article

15 December 2023

Phoebe Lupton profiles artist Kate Beynon, whose contemplative self portrait features in Archie 100: A Century of the Archibald Prize.
Elizabeth
Elizabeth
Elizabeth
Elizabeth

Darling Portrait Prize 2020

Previous exhibition, 2020

The Darling Prize is a new biennial prize for Australian portrait painters, painting Australian sitters. The winner receives a cash prize of $75,000.
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The National Portrait Gallery building front entrance
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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 past and present. We respectfully advise that this site includes works by, images of, names of, voices of and references to deceased people.

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