The National Portrait Gallery is the home of notable Australians. Captured via paint, film, bronze etc. These are the people who have made a difference to our lives and they nation that we have become. It's a great place to explore portraiture and come face to face with Australian identity, history, culture, creativity and diversity.
What I loved most about the gallery is that it wasn't just old politicians and people I hadn't heard of. There are a significant amount of contemporary artists featured from Deb Mailman, Paul Kelly, Nick Cave and Midnight Oil.
Plus people we have come to know like Rosie Batty, Reg Grundy and even this one of Artistic Director of the Australian Ballet, David McAllister.
The National Portrait Gallery is the most significant building to be constructed in the Parliamentary Triangle for the last 20 years. Won through an open international design competition by Johnson Pilton Walker in 2005, the 14,000m2 building provides exhibition space for approximately 500 portraits in a simple configuration of day-lit galleries.
The external form of the building responds to its site by using the building’s geometry to connect with key vistas and alignments around the precinct. A series of five bays, each more than 70 metres long, are arranged perpendicular to the Land Axis referring to Walter Burley Griffin’s early concepts for the National Capital.
I spent a couple of hours in this gallery, but you could easily spend a lot more time there. There is a cafe there as well so you can have a break.
From their website...
The National Portrait Gallery is the home of notable Australians. Captured via paint, film, bronze etc. These are the people who have made a difference to our lives and they nation that we have become. It's a great place to explore portraiture and come face to face with Australian identity, history, culture, creativity and diversity.
The National Portrait Gallery is the most significant building to be constructed in the Parliamentary Triangle for the last 20 years. Won through an open international design competition by Johnson Pilton Walker in 2005, the 14,000m2 building provides exhibition space for approximately 500 portraits in a simple configuration of day-lit galleries.
The external form of the building responds to its site by using the building’s geometry to connect with key vistas and alignments around the precinct. A series of five bays, each more than 70 metres long, are arranged perpendicular to the Land Axis referring to Walter Burley Griffin’s early concepts for the National Capital.
LOCATION: King Edward Terrace, Parkes, Canberra
HOURS: The gallery is open every day 10am-5pm except Christmas Day.
ADMISSION: Free.
e: info@npg.gov.au
p: +61 2 6102 7000