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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.

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Portrait stories

Romance Was Born

'It feels how we imagined it'

Anna Plunkett and Luke Sales on forming Romance Was Born, and the inspiration behind their portrait by Samuel Hodge.

Noel McKenna

'Interiors can tell a lot about a person'

Noel McKenna on why he became an artist and his love of animals and interiors.

Tina Arena and Georges Antoni

'I just have to surrender'

Tina and Georges on creating the portrait, and seeing it for the first time at the National Portrait Gallery.

Costa Georgiadis and Rob McHaffie

'I love nature'

Costa and Rob on meeting for the first time and the creation of Costa (it's not ours it's us).

Jenny Kee and Linda Jackson

'If children can relate, then we're really cooking'

Jenny Kee and Linda Jackson on collaboration.

Maggie Beer and Del Kathryn Barton

'I wanted the whole picture to be pulsating with energy'

Maggie Beer and Del Kathryn Barton on symbolism and beauty.

Atong Atem

'being photographed was a point of celebration'

Atong Atem on exploring presentation in traditional photography.

Barry Jones

'I was quite anxious to ensure the abolition of the death penalty'

Barry Jones, politician, lawyer and writer.

Jimmy & Jane Barnes and Jesse Lizotte

'All you need is love'

Jimmy & Jane Barnes with photographer Jesse Lizotte on collaborating and making their photograph in a bed of roses.

Jackie French

'What I was writing was fairly revolutionary'

Jackie French on starting writing at six years old, gardening and truth.

Malcolm McCusker & Vincent Fantauzzo

'How can I get out of doing this?'

Malcolm McCusker talks with artist Vincent Fantauzzo about starting out as a lawyer and becoming Governor of Western Australia.

Brett Canét-Gibson & Heath Bergersen

'My influence is around 1850'

Brett Canét-Gibson on making a portrait with Heath Bergersen.

Fiona Stanley

'Everyone knew who I was'

Fiona Stanley on her career as a paediatric epidemiologist, and working with Aboriginal communities.

Fiona Wood

'This is exquisite, that's what I will be'

Surgeon Fiona Wood on problem solving and saying 'yes'.

Luke Cornish

'I love getting into the Salon as a street artist because the whole ethos of that award is the refused, the rejected'

Luke Cornish, aka E.L.K. describes his street art and portraiture

Michael Peck

'I've been interested in realism for forever'

Artist Michael Peck describes the evolution of his painting style and the creation of his striking portrait of Neale Daniher.

© National Portrait Gallery 2026
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