Shakespeare to Winehouse: Icons from the National Portrait Gallery, London, National Portrait Gallery

From Shakespeare to Winehouse, Darwin to Dickens, the Beatles, Brontë sisters and Beckham, the National Portrait Gallery London holds the world’s most extensive collection of portraits. While they undergo the largest renovation of their building in 125 years, we’re thrilled to say that over 80 treasures from their collection are travelling to Australia for an exclusive exhibition with us in 2022!

Start planning now to visit famous faces from the sixteenth century to today. Think Mandela, Malala, Churchill, Diana, Bowie, Sheeran, Westwood and more! And iconic artists like Warhol, Hockney, Emin, van Dyck, Rubens and Freud. There’ll be fame, power, love, loss, innovation and the downright inspirational – it’s going to be incredible.

This really is a rare, once-in-a-generation opportunity – showing exclusively at the National Portrait Gallery in Canberra – so keep calm and grab your ticket!

Selected portraits
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William Shakespeare, c. 1600-1610 associated with John Taylor

'Amy-Blue' (Amy Winehouse), 2011 Marlene Dumas

Queen Elizabeth I, c. 1575 associated with Nicholas Hilliard

1 William Shakespeare, c. 1600-1610 associated with John Taylor. National Portrait Gallery, London. Given by Francis Egerton, 1st Earl of Ellesmere, 1856. © National Portrait Gallery, London. 2 'Amy-Blue' (Amy Winehouse), 2011 Marlene Dumas. National Portrait Gallery, London. Purchased with help from the Art Fund, 2012. © Marlene Dumas; courtesy of the artist and Frith Street Gallery, London. 3 Malala Yousafzai, 2018 Shirin Neshat. National Portrait Gallery, London. Commissioned with support from Scott Collins and Lotta Ashdown, in partnership with Outset Contemporary Art Fund, 2018. © National Portrait Gallery, London. 4 Queen Elizabeth I, c. 1575 associated with Nicholas Hilliard. National Portrait Gallery, London. Purchased 1865. © National Portrait Gallery, London.

Selected images

Take a peek at a selection of the portraits you can see in the exhibition.

Favourite portraits

National Portrait Gallery staff introduce their favourite portraits from the exhibition.

Self portrait, c. 1770–75 by Angelica Kauffmann

In conversation with Jo Gilmour

An Auslan interpreted program with Curator, Collection & Research, Joanna Gilmour, exploring some of the stories, artworks and people who have made it to our shores (and walls of the Gallery!).

In conversation with Colin Davidson

Belfast-based artist, Colin Davidson talks about the fortuitous happenstances that led to him painting a range of famous faces (from Brad Pitt to the Queen, and everyone in between!)

Stephanie Carlton on Self portrait by Sir Anthony van Dyck

Behind the scenes

Behind the scenes with Stephanie Carlton, International project frames conservator, National Portrait Gallery, London.

Shakespeare to Winehouse sponsors and partners

Shakespeare to Winehouse: Icons from the National Portrait Gallery, London is supported by the UK/Australia Season Patrons Board, the British Council, and the Australian Government as part of the UK/Australia Season.

The Icons Syndicate

Marilyn Darling AC
Tim Bednall
Dr Helen Nugent AC
Jillian Broadbent AC
Sid & Fiona Myer Family Foundation
Nigel Satterley AM & Denise Satterley
Penny Fowler & Grant Fowler
The Hon Heidi Victoria
Anthony Adair & Karen McLeod Adair
Philip Bacon AO
Tim Fairfax AC
Ross Adler AC
Elizabeth Dibbs
David Tudehope
Stuart Wood AM QC & Samantha Wood
Catherine Livingstone AO & Michael Satterthwaite
Anonymous
John Calvert-Jones AM & Janet Calvert-Jones AO
Trawalla Foundation
Paul Dainty AM & Donna Dainty
The Hon Michael D Kirby AC CMG
Claudia Hyles OAM
Bruce Parncutt AO
JPW | Johnson Pilton Walker
The Pop Inn
Capital Brewing Co

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Dine in restaurants with five stars, then sleep under a million more. Rejuvenate in a spa amongst botanic gardens. Balloon at dawn and rise above Parliament House. Admire art collections belonging to Australia, then collect bottles and stories from one of 30 wineries within a 30-minute drive. Fall asleep next to pacing lions, or wake up in rooms where Prime Ministers have walked. Unearth creativity not just in the national attractions, but in suburban backyards and dotted around the city.

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