Skip to main content
Menu
What's on Prizes The Portraits Watch
The Gallery Governance & Board Circle of Friends
Learn Access Search the website
close close
What's on The Portraits The Gallery Learn Watch More O

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.

Uncommon Australians

The vision of Gordon and Marilyn Darling

Previous exhibition
from Friday 6 March until Sunday 14 June 2015
Andy Thomas
Andy Thomas, 2002 Montalbetti + Campbell. © Montalbetti & Campbell

Uncommon Australians: The vision of Gordon and Marilyn Darling showcases portraits acquired through the generosity of the National Portrait Gallery’s Founding Patrons, L Gordon Darling AC CMG and Marilyn Darling AC; and pays tribute to the Darlings’ persistence in turning their private dream of a gallery of portraits of ‘uncommon Australians’ into a tangible collection in a purpose-built home.

Accompanied by a lavish catalogue, the exhibition will tour to McClelland Sculpture Park+Gallery, Victoria, and the Tweed Regional Gallery, New South Wales.

Read more in the exhibition essay

62 portraits
view all

General Cosgrove, Dili, East Timor 1999
Professor Peter Doherty
Nick Cave
Professor Mandyam Srinivasan
Portrait of Dame Elisabeth Murdoch
1 General Cosgrove, Dili, East Timor 1999, 2006 Rick Amor. © Rick Amor/Copyright Agency, 2024. 2 Professor Peter Doherty, 2001 Rick Amor. © Rick Amor/Copyright Agency, 2024. 3 Nick Cave, 1999 Howard Arkley. © Estate of Howard Arkley. Licensed by Kalli Rolfe Contemporary Art., Currently on display. 4 Professor Mandyam Srinivasan, 2014 Sam Leach. © Sam Leach. 5 Portrait of Dame Elisabeth Murdoch, 2000 Australian Tapestry Workshop, Merrill Dumbrell, Christopher Pyett, Normana Wight. © Australian Tapestry Workshop.
Barry Humphries
Barry Humphries
Barry Humphries
Barry Humphries

Uncommon Australians

The vision of Gordon and Marilyn Darling

Sarah Engledow writes about Gordon and Marilyn Darling and their support for the National Portrait Gallery throughout its evolution.

Gordon and Marilyn Darling interview

Gordon and Marilyn Darling talk about the origins of the National Portrait Gallery and some of their favourite portraits.

Related people

L Gordon Darling AC CMG

Marilyn Darling AC

Dr Sarah Engledow (curator)

Uncommon Australians tour dates

Originally shown at the National Portrait Gallery
Friday 6th March until Sunday 14th June 2015

McClelland Sculpture Park + Gallery

Sunday 13th December 2015 until Sunday 21st February 2016

Tweed Regional Gallery

Friday 4th March until Sunday 1st May 2016

Home Contact Media Privacy statement User agreement Social media and community guidelines
© 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