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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.

Express Yourself

Previous exhibition
from Saturday 24 March until Sunday 2 September 2018
Rosie Batty
Rosie Batty, 2017 Nikki Toole. © Nikki Toole

This exhibition celebrates Australians whose unique life experiences symbolise social and cultural forces. Uncompromising individuality defines them. The portraits are drawn from the National Portrait Gallery’s collection of contemporary photography and drawing.

The portraits attest to the facility of photographic portraiture to convey compelling psychological depth.

The exhibition features a newly-commissioned portrait of Rosie Batty by photographer Nikki Toole. Because of her traumatic personal experience, Rosie is recognised as a spokesperson for combatting domestic violence. Rosie Batty was Australian of the Year in 2015.

Please note that the exhibition includes photographs of Indigenous Australians who are now deceased.

31 portraits
view all

Leigh Bowery in Fur Coat
Jeff Fenech and trainer, John Lewis
Marcia Langton
Christos Tsiolkas
Ben Mendelsohn
Barrie Kosky, Sydney Opera House
1 Leigh Bowery in Fur Coat, c. 1983 (printed 2005) David Gwinnutt. © David Gwinnutt. 2 Jeff Fenech and trainer, John Lewis, 1986 Graham McCarter. © Graham McCarter. 3 Marcia Langton, 2013 Juno Gemes. © Juno Gemes/Copyright Agency, 2024. 4 Christos Tsiolkas, 1998 (printed 2009) John Tsiavis. © John Tsiavis. 5 Ben Mendelsohn, 2001 (printed 2014) Ingvar Kenne. © Ingvar Kenne. 6 Barrie Kosky, Sydney Opera House, c. 1997 (printed 2017) Robert McFarlane. © Robert McFarlane/Copyright Agency, 2024.

Related people

Dr Christopher Chapman (curator)

Express Yourself tour dates

Originally shown at the National Portrait Gallery
Saturday 24th March until Sunday 2nd September 2018

Gosford Regional Art Gallery

Saturday 1st December 2018 until Sunday 3rd February 2019

Perc Tucker Regional Gallery

Friday 15th February until Sunday 7th April 2019

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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.

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