Skip to main content
Menu

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.

Olga and her blanket, 2015

by Katherine Griffiths

National Photographic Portrait Prize 2016 Finalist

Olga Horak OAM is a survivor, in every sense of the word. Despite living through the Holocaust, she is the epitome of elegance and style. Photographed in one of the many dresses she has designed and made for herself, Olga maintains that age is no excuse to stop looking your best. Here she holds a blanket that was woven using the hair of Jewish prisoners who had their heads shaven as they entered Auschwitz. The blanket covered Olga’s skeletal frame on the day of liberation. The contrast between the two garments and the two lives is a striking one.

National Photographic Portrait Prize 2016

© 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