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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.

The work of art

In Galleries Eight and Nine

Previous exhibition
from Saturday 29 October 2022 until Tuesday 23 May 2023
Self portrait
Collection display in Gallery 8, November 2022
1 Self portrait, 1990 Anne Zahalka. © Anne Zahalka/Copyright Agency, 2024. 2 Collection display in Gallery 8, November 2022.

It takes a village to raise a creative! Get an insight into the often-unseen work and supporters needed for the arts to thrive. The work of art documents the creative process, evoke states of creativity and inspiration, and shows us clues about the subject’s own work from the way artists portray them.

Not confined to images of artists in their studios, this display goes beyond. Think gallerists, curators, collectors, patrons, philanthropists, and professionals from the literary and performing arts. It’s quite the crowd.

Portraits on display

John Mawurndjul
Portrait of Kym Bonython/Portrait of Mr Bonython's speedway cap
A Portrait (Kate Hattam)
1 John Mawurndjul, 2005 R. Ian Lloyd. © R Ian Lloyd/Copyright Agency, 2024. 2 Portrait of Kym Bonython/Portrait of Mr Bonython's speedway cap, 1963-1966 John Brack. © Helen Brack. 3 A Portrait (Kate Hattam), 1956 Clifton Pugh AO. © Shane Pugh, Currently on display.
© National Portrait Gallery 2024
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