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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 of Patricia Piccinini
Portrait of Patricia Piccinini
Portrait of Patricia Piccinini

Portrait of Patricia Piccinini, 2019

Allissa Oughtred
Portrait, inkjet print on paper

Gift of an anonymous donor 2019

Patricia Piccinini and Allissa Oughtred

Patricia Piccinini and Allissa Oughtred

'Observing the reality as it's unfolding'
Portrait story

Patricia and Allissa on making a portrait together.

Little Pattie
Little Pattie
Little Pattie

Little Pattie, 1966 (printed 2019)

Ern McQuillan OAM
Portrait, gelatin silver photograph on paper

Purchased 2019

Creative angst, 2011 by Mark Tedeschi

Creative angst, 2011

by Mark Tedeschi
Image
The Long Awaited, 2008 by Patricia Piccinini

Patricia Piccinini

More about In the flesh artists

Patricia Piccinini was born in Sierra Leone and grew up in Canberra. She received a BFA from the Victorian College of the Arts, Melbourne in 1991. In 1994 she initiated The Basement Project Gallery in Melbourne, which she coordinated until 1996. Her 2003 exhibition We Are Family represented Australia at the 50th Venice Biennale.

Bedroom, 10.30 pm (from 'The Fitzroy Series'), 2011 by Patricia Piccinini

Acceptance

More about In the flesh

Patricia Piccinini’s photographic series SO2 and The Fitzroy Series explore human acceptance of difference – applied empathy – through children’s interactions with trans-species creatures.

The Long Awaited, 2008 by Patricia Piccinini

Empathy

More about In the flesh

Patricia Piccinini places empathy at the heart of her practice. The tenderness of the moment dominates.

Walking in tall grass, Lucy, 2010 by Jan Nelson

More about In the flesh artists

General content

The exhibition features work from Jan Nelson, Natasha Bieniek, Patricia Piccinini, Juan Ford, Petrina Hicks, Ron Mueck, Yanni Floros, Sam Jinks, Michael Peck and Robin Eley.

Patricia 'Bambi' Tuckwell (Shmith)
Patricia 'Bambi' Tuckwell (Shmith)
Patricia 'Bambi' Tuckwell (Shmith)

Patricia 'Bambi' Tuckwell (Shmith), c. 1952

Max Dupain OBE
Portrait, gelatin silver photograph on paper

Collection: National Portrait Gallery
Purchased with funds provided by Timothy Fairfax AC 2003

Divide, 2011 by Sam Jinks

In the flesh

Previous exhibition, 2014

In the flesh is an enthralling and immersive experience of contemporary art that confronts the concept of humanness and the experiences of consciousness and emotion. Featuring ten Australian artists including Jan Nelson, Patricia Piccinini, Ron Mueck and Michael Peck, the exhibition explores themes of intimacy, empathy, transience, transition, vulnerability, alienation, restlessness, reflection, mortality and acceptance.

Divide, 2011 by Sam Jinks

In the Flesh

15 October 2014
Archived media releases 2014

Press releases and image downloads for media.

Still Life (Pieta), 2007 by Sam Jinks

More about In the flesh

General content

In the flesh is realised through moments of intimacy, empathy, transitions in life and the transience of life, vulnerability, alienation, restlessness, self-reflection, mortality and acceptance.

Forget me not, 2020 Jennifer Blau

Forget me not

Jennifer Blau
Image
Maria

WHO ARE YOU

Australian portraiture
Previous exhibition, 2022

Featuring 130 works across painting, film, photography, screen printing, sculpture, and then some – it explores our inner worlds, outer selves, intimacy, isolation, celebrity 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.

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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