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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 Gallery’s Acknowledgement of Country, and information on culturally sensitive and restricted content and the use of historic language in the collection can be found here.

Emily Kame Kngwarreye

1995
Jenny Sages

charcoal on paper (sheet: 16.5 cm x 23.5 cm)
Emily Kame Kngwarreye

These sketches have been in the collection of the National Portrait Gallery for eight years, but they have never before been exhibited. Jenny Sages became accustomed to working this way while on assignments for Vogue magazine, annotating her impressions of fashion and exotic destinations. However, her sketches of Emily Kngwarreye are unique in the Gallery's collection, providing, as they do, not only a graphic record but a written record of an extraordinary encounter between two women at ground level.

It was out of a desire for these drawings to be seen and understood in context that the idea for the exhibition 'Jenny Sages: Paths to portraiture' evolved.

Caption: Sarah Engledow, National Portrait Gallery

Collection: National Portrait Gallery
Gift of Dr. Morris Low 2000
© Jenny Sages

The National Portrait Gallery respects the artistic and intellectual property rights of others. Works of art from the collection are reproduced as per the Australian Copyright Act 1968 (Cth). The use of images of works from the collection may be restricted under the Act. Requests for a reproduction of a work of art can be made through a Reproduction request. For further information please contact NPG Copyright.
2001.26
Currently not on display
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Artist and subject

Jenny Sages (age 62 in 1995)

Emily Kame Kngwarreye (age 85 in 1995)

Subject professions

Visual arts and crafts

Donated by

Dr Morris Low (2 portraits)

Related portraits
(View all 36)

Emily Kngwarreye
Emily
Emily's brush
Jenny Sages
1. Emily Kngwarreye, 1994. 2. Emily, 1994. 3. Emily's brush, 1994. 4. Jenny Sages, 1995. All Greg Weight.

Related information

The companion
The companion
The companion
The companion

The Companion

Permanent collection catalogue

Publications

On one level The Companion talks about the most famous and frontline Australians, but on another it tells us about ourselves.

Kate Grenville

'Making Stories'

Portrait story

Australian writer Kate Grenville discusses her career and portrait by Jenny Sages.
Each morning when I wake up I put on my mothers face, 2000
Each morning when I wake up I put on my mothers face, 2000
Each morning when I wake up I put on my mothers face, 2000
Each morning when I wake up I put on my mothers face, 2000

Paths to portraiture

Magazine article by Dr Sarah Engledow, 2010

The life and art of Australian artist Jenny Sages is on display in the exhibition Paths to Portraiture.
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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.

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