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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.

Portrait 69

Emily Kame Kngwarreye with Lily
Emily Kame Kngwarreye with Lily
Emily Kame Kngwarreye with Lily

Illuminating history

by Joanna Gilmour

Joanna Gilmour reflects on 25 years of collecting at the National Portrait Gallery.
Aretha Brown in front of her New Shakahari Wall Mural Commission at La Mama Theatre, Carlton, 2023 Mark Mohell
Aretha Brown in front of her New Shakahari Wall Mural Commission at La Mama Theatre, Carlton, 2023 Mark Mohell
Aretha Brown in front of her New Shakahari Wall Mural Commission at La Mama Theatre, Carlton, 2023 Mark Mohell

Aretha Brown

In conversation

by Rebecca Ray

Gumbaynggirr artist Aretha Brown talks street art, collaboration and ghost stories with First Nations Curator and Meriam woman, Rebecca Ray.
Girl Reading a Letter at an Open Window, 1657–58 Johannes Vermeer
Girl Reading a Letter at an Open Window, 1657–58 Johannes Vermeer
Girl Reading a Letter at an Open Window, 1657–58 Johannes Vermeer

Basking in light

by Pieter Roelofs

Pieter Roelofs, Head of Painting and Sculpture at Rijksmuseum and co-curator of Vermeer, delves into the largest-ever exhibition of the master artist.
Kyoto Temple Enlists Android Buddhist Deity to Help People, 23 February 2019 The Asahi Shimbun.
Kyoto Temple Enlists Android Buddhist Deity to Help People, 23 February 2019 The Asahi Shimbun.
Kyoto Temple Enlists Android Buddhist Deity to Help People, 23 February 2019 The Asahi Shimbun.

More than human

by Gillian Raymond

Gillian Raymond investigates the history of humanoid robots and asks, is this the future of portraiture?
Tempe Manning Self-portrait 1939
Tempe Manning Self-portrait 1939
Tempe Manning Self-portrait 1939

A potpourri of portraits

by Natalie Wilson

Archie 100 curator (and detective) Natalie Wilson’s nationwide search for Archibald portraits unearthed the fascinating stories behind some long-lost treasures.
Abbey Mag (detail), 2017 Tanja Bruckner
Abbey Mag (detail), 2017 Tanja Bruckner
Abbey Mag (detail), 2017 Tanja Bruckner

Safe space

by Amy Middleton

Amy Middleton on the power of portraiture in promoting inclusivity and connecting with intersectionality and diversity in all its forms.
Cathy Freeman, 1998 Julian Kingma
Cathy Freeman, 1998 Julian Kingma
Cathy Freeman, 1998 Julian Kingma

In profile

Julian Kingma

by Penelope Grist

Penelope Grist explores the photographic instinct of four-time National Photographic Portrait Prize finalist Julian Kingma.
Maria Polly Cutmore
Maria Polly Cutmore
Maria Polly Cutmore

Now and then

Polly Cutmore

Photographed 35 years apart, these two portraits offer both a timeline of, and thematic thread for, Maria (Polly) Cutmore’s life – from a young woman to a respected Gomeroi Elder.
Moby Dickens, 2022 Blak Douglas (Dunghutti, South-east region)
Moby Dickens, 2022 Blak Douglas (Dunghutti, South-east region)
Moby Dickens, 2022 Blak Douglas (Dunghutti, South-east region)

Why portraiture?

by Blak Douglas

Blak Douglas reflects on his experiences, process and motivation for making portraits.

Related information

Portrait 70
Portrait 70
Portrait 70
Portrait 70

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Portrait 70
Portrait 70
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Portrait 70

Portrait 70

Kim Leutwyler on her portraits of the LGBTQIA+ community, Oliver Giles chats to Polly Borland, Gunggandji artist Simone Arnol, and Andrew Quilty's new book.

Portrait 68

Summer 2022/23

Rebecca Ray on Robert Fielding’s Mayatjara series, Jennifer Higgie on Alice Neel, Elspeth Pitt chats with Yvette Coppersmith, Vincent Fantauzzo on virtual sittings with Hugh Jackman and more.
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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.

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