What is the National Portrait Gallery in Canberra?
The National Portrait Gallery in Canberra displays portraits of people who have shaped Australia, from explorers and politicians to artists, scientists and sports stars. Its building opened in 2008.
The gallery was established in 1998 and first showed portraits in Old Parliament House. Its purpose-built home, beside the High Court on the shore of Lake Burley Griffin, was designed by Johnson Pilton Walker.
The collection includes paintings, photographs, sculptures and digital works. Famous subjects include Captain Cook, Ned Kelly, Cathy Freeman and Paul Kelly.
Prizes
The gallery runs the National Photographic Portrait Prize and the Darling Portrait Prize, which attract entries from across the country.
Entry to the permanent collection is free, and the gallery runs talks, family activities and touring exhibitions that travel to regional galleries.
Its galleries show how portraits can tell the story of a nation, from colonial times to the present, and they include many portraits of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander leaders, artists and athletes. Natural light and long sightlines through the building were designed to make the portraits easy to enjoy.
Did You Know?
The gallery owns a famous portrait of James Cook by John Webber, painted in 1782.