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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 Stories

Portrait Stories use video, multimedia and sound to present the stories of the artists and subjects in the National Portrait Gallery's collection. This series is produced with funds donated by Tim Fairfax AC.

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The Family

by Charles Blackman

2 minutes

Meredith McKinney, subject of Charles Blackman's 'The Family', recounts memories from her childhood and the creation of the portrait.

Kym Bonython

'The man and his cap'

2 minutes

Former National Portrait Gallery Director, Andrew Sayers, describes John Brack's portrait of Kym Bonython.

The Jester (Self Portrait) by Lionel Lindsay

'Comedy of Life'

2 minutes

A visual exploration of themes depicted in 'The Jester' by Lionel Lindsay.

Dame Elisabeth Murdoch

'Weaving the Dame'

2 minutes

An interview with Victorian Tapestry Workshop artists Sue Walker and Christopher Pyett.

Vali Myers

'A friend in a lift'

2 minutes

Interview with Vali Myers' friend, Dimmi, the lift-attendant at the Nicholas Building in Melbourne.

Captain Cook

'The photojournalists of their time'

2 minutes

An exploration of the role of artists such as John Webber who, whilst a member of Cook’s crew over many voyages, created paintings and drawings of the situations and people the explorers encountered.
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The National Portrait Gallery building front entrance
The National Portrait Gallery building front entrance
The National Portrait Gallery building front entrance

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© National Portrait Gallery 2025
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