Opened in 2008, the National Portrait Gallery houses portraits of prominent Australians who are important in their field of endeavour or whose life sets them apart as an individual of long-term public interest.
Located next o the High Court of Australia and across the road from the National Gallery of Australia, it’s easy to find. We parked at the Questacon Car Park, because we intended to see other attractions in the area. This is a paid car park, but there are usually spaces available, and it’s centrally located. Parking is available at the National Gallery, but this fills quickly.
On entering the gallery, you are met by the sculpture Geo Face Distributor, popularly known as the orange blob. Apparently you can see different faces depending on how you look at it, but we could only see a blob.
Walking around the galleries, we could identify many of the portraits, without reading the descriptions. Obvious Government officials (Quentin Bryce the Governor General) and Justice Michael Kirby were present, but not walls full of ex-Prime Ministers, which we were pleased about.
It was great to see actors like Deborah Mailman, Hugh Jackman and Ruth Cracknell along with cricketer Shane Warne. Important indigenous leaders like Pat Dodson and Richard Walley were also present.
What Did We Think?
This was an interesting gallery to visit because of the variety of people represented. Entry is free, unless you want to go to any special exhibits that are on. After finishing, we went next door to the National Gallery of Australia.
Geo Face Distributor by James Angus (popularly the giant orange blob)Photographic PortraitsChrissy Amphlett by Ivan DurrantRuth Cracknell by Rosemary ValadonDeborah Mailman by Evert PloegQuentin Bryce by Michael ZavrosPatrick Dodson by Zhou XiaopingRichard Walley by Julie DowlingJustice Michael Kirby by Ralph HeimansNell by Abbey McCullochHugh Jackman by Vincent Fantauzzo
For other places to visit in the Australian Capital Territory click here
With 3 exhibitions at the Newcastle Art Gallery in December 2021 it’s a great place to visit The three exhibits fill the galleries walls until January 30, 2022.
About Being Here
The first exhibit consists of ceramic art work by Angela Valamaneh of the Jam Factory. Titles “About Being Here” displays works from her developing style of the late 1990s until present.
Natural Histories #FUntitled CeramicInsect/Orchid
Instrumental Cause
The exhibition Instrumental Cause is by guest curator Donna Biles-Fernando featuring portraits from Newcastle Art Gallery’s collection. These examine how different artists work.
The Suspension of Disbelief by Marcus BeilbyInstrumental Cause
The Art of Protest at Newcastle Art Gallery December 2021
The Art of Protest features politically engaged artists past and present responding to disaster and injustice and calling for change, whether from community activism or global social movements.
Covering over 100 years of resistance, it shows how new artists take up the fight each decade. Many areas of protest are covered, from workers’ rights and feminism to climate change.
The Art of Protest TitleMade From Melted Family Ute Lost in the 2019/20 Fires by Fiona LeeI Can’t Breathe by Maddison GibbsPaper Armada by Alex Seaton and Screen Prints by Peter DrewTrial By Fire by Fiona LeeThe Bunker by Fiona LeeBillionaires UnitedThylacine Study No.4 by Joseph McGlennon
Located in Laman Street Cooks Hill above Civic Park, the Newcastle Art Gallery contains an impressive art collection, primarily Australian artists. Limited display area restricts the number of art works on display, but a rotation ensures new works every few months.
The large sculpture of a nest and giant egg mark the entrance to the gallery, making it easy to find.
The gallery often displays special exhibits, which adds another reason to visit. During our last visit, the exhibit was Between Two Worlds, which featured works of art produced by Australian artists of Chinese heritage.
Newcastle Art Gallery Entrance
Permanent Collection
The gallery’s collection consists of over 6,500 items, covering areas of ceramics, painting, photography, prints & drawings, sculpture and video & new media. Works from colonial to the present are represented, from local, Australian and several international artists.
Foyer Ceiling
Painting From the Permanent Collection
Painting From the Permanent Collection
Between Two Worlds
This was a great exhibit to walk around, because of the variety and quality of the works. Unfortunately, it has now finished, but a new one by George Gittoes is on display until mid-April 2020.
Foyer Ceiling Newcastle Art Gallery Exhibit
Untitled by Guo Jian
Bronze Power Dragon by Guan Wei
The Open and Spacious Second Floor
Samurai Painting Part of the Between Two Worlds Exhibit
Part of the Between Two Worlds Exhibit
Newcastle Art Gallery Exhibit
Between Two Worlds Exhibit
Newcastle Art Gallery Sculpture Garden
Don’t forget to look at the sculpture garden while at the art gallery. Access is via a door near the toilets, to the left of the main entrance. With under a dozen sculptures, it is small, but still interesting and worth walking around to enjoy the displays.
Newcastle Art Gallery Sculpture Garden
Sculpture by Margel Hinder
Submarine 1993 by Edward Milan
Two Forms 1958 by Kathleen Shillam
Skyscraper by Vlase Nikoleski
Beacon 1992 by Akio Makigawa
Mary Magdalene 1978 by George Bladessin
New Displays in September 2020
When we re-visited in September 2020, there were new exhibits on display from the Gallery’s collection, along with this year’s Kilgour Prize entrants. We had an enjoyable time looking at the artwork.
Newcastle Art Gallery
Marion Borgelt – Liquid Light Horizontal Triptych No. 1
Kilgour Prize 2020 – On Display Until November 2020
In 1987, artist Jack Kilgour bequeathed funds for the creation of a major figurative and portrait art competition to be run in perpetuity at Newcastle Art Gallery. Today, the Kilgour Prize is one of Australia’s major art prizes, and awards $50,000 for the most outstanding work of art as determined by a panel of three judges, and $5,000 for the People’s Choice Award, as determined by votes from the public.
For figurative and Portrait Painting
The Kilgour Prize 2020
Kenneth Lambert – I See Myself Reflected in You
Jordan Richardson – The Dunce
Oliver Shepherd – The Proposal (Portrait of the Hon. Michael Kirby AC CGM)
Daniel Butterworth – Self Waiting For Life To Happen Number Two
What Did We Think?
A great place to visit and because the exhibits change regularly, a great place to go back to. Well laid out, it offers ample opportunities for photographs.
As we do not have copyright permission for any of the artworks shown here, none of these photos are for sale. However, photos from many of our other stories can be found on Shutterstock.
To see what else there is to do in New South Wales, please see some of our other stories.
