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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.

Nora Heysen

'This peaceful spot'

Australian artist, Nora Heysen, discusses her childhood and the development of her career.

More information on Nora Heysen

Selected images

6 images
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Interview with Nora Heysen. Video length: 2 minutes
Self portrait
Self portrait, 1934 Nora Heysen AM. © Lou Klepac
Nora Heysen inside her home, Hunters Hill, Sydney
Nora Heysen inside her home, Hunters Hill, Sydney, 2000 Sage. © Sage
Nora Heysen with her dog standing outside her home, Hunters Hill, Sydney
Nora Heysen with her dog standing outside her home, Hunters Hill, Sydney, 2000 Sage. © Sage
Nora Heysen with her dog sitting outside her home, Hunters Hill, Sydney
Nora Heysen with her dog sitting outside her home, Hunters Hill, Sydney, 2000 Sage. © Sage
Nora Heysen
Nora Heysen, 1995 Greg Weight. © Gregory Weight/Copyright Agency, 2024
6 images
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Related information

Self portrait
Self portrait
Self portrait
Self portrait

Give me five

Magazine article by Karen Quinlan AM, 2021

National Portrait Gallery director Karen Quinlan AM nominates her quintet of favourites from the collection, with early twentieth-century ‘selfies’ filling the roster.
Self portrait, 1645
Self portrait, 1645
Self portrait, 1645
Self portrait, 1645

The considered life

Magazine article by Andrew Sayers AM, 2010

Andrew Sayers asks whether a portrait can truly be the examination of a life.
The National Portrait Gallery building front entrance
The National Portrait Gallery building front entrance
The National Portrait Gallery building front entrance
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.

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