© National Portrait Gallery 2025
King Edward Terrace, Parkes
Canberra, ACT 2600, Australia
Phone +61 2 6102 7000
ABN: 54 74 277 1196
Del Kathryn Barton
Biography
Del Kathryn Barton (b.1972) lives and works in Sydney. She is one of Australia's most celebrated contemporary artists, famous for her figurative paintings that feature fantastical characters posed against ornate—and sometimes psychedelic—backgrounds.
1 portrait in the collection
Kathryn Hay, c. 2000
Penny Tweedie
Portrait, type C photograph on paper
Collection: National Portrait Gallery
Gift of the artist 2004
Behind the scenes
Del Kathryn Barton’s portrait of Maggie Beer
Magazine article, 2024
It was a riot of colour in the Gallery as we welcomed Del Kathryn Barton’s portrait of Maggie Beer AO into the collection.
Maggie, 2023
Del Kathryn Barton
Portrait, synthetic polymer paint and pigment liner on French linen
Commissioned with funds provided by Hayley Baillie and James Baillie 2023
In Conversation
Maggie Beer AO and Del Kathryn Barton
Watch
Join us with Maggie Beer AO, cook restaurateur and businesswoman and Del Kathryn Barton, artist, in celebration of the National Portrait Gallery's most recent commissioned portrait, Maggie, 2023 by Del Kathryn Barton.
Maggie Beer
In Gallery One
Previous exhibition, 2023
Our most recent commission, the portrait of Maggie Beer by Del Kathryn Barton both combines a statuesque almost devotional likeness with a spell-binding and dream-like personalised symbology of the sitter.
Portrait 42
February - May 2012
Magazine
This issue features Del Kathryn Barton, Renaissance Portraiture in New York, Australian impressionists, Nikki Toole’s Skater project, National Photographic Portrait Prize, Andrew Maccoll & Mick Fanning and more.
Alexander Maurice Ramsay, 1978
Robert Hannaford AM
Portrait, oil on composition board
Gift of Janet, Andrew, Kathryn and Eleanor Ramsay, daughters and son of Alexander Maurice Ramsay and Amy Jane Ramsay 2010. Donated through the Australian Government's Cultural Gifts Program.
Transition, 2008
by Bronek Kozka
Image
Selfless, 2010
by Melissa Wood
Image
Observation point
Magazine article by Del Kathryn Barton, 2012
Del Kathryn Barton discusses ideas of portraiture through two of her own artworks.
Unplanned arrival leads to blissful adoration
Nearest & Dearest
A mother’s ‘in-loveness’
Australian Love stories
Family, friends, fanatics and foes (and everything in between!)
Previous exhibition, 2021
Reconnect and reflect with our new major exhibition, Australian Love Stories (in real life!) as we explore love, affection and connection in all its guises.
Portrait 70
Magazine
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.
Australian Love Stories
4 January 2021
Archived media releases 2021
A major new exhibition celebrating love in all its guises. Opening 20 March 2021.
Harriet Schwarzrock: spaces between movement and stillness
10 February 2021
Archived media releases 2021
To celebrate the new exhibition Australian Love Stories, renowned Australian glass artist Harriet Schwarzrock has been commissioned to make a large-scale installation reflecting on the role the heart plays as our emotional centre.