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People, Place, Portraits

Two people on a darkened stage, one seated beside an easel while the other paints a portrait.
Two people on a darkened stage, one seated beside an easel while the other paints a portrait.

Overview

Discover powerful portraits and the stories behind them in People, Place, Portraits, a new exhibition at Parliament House, curated by Big hART. Big hART is one of Australia's leading arts and social change organisations. They work alongside communities experiencing complex social challenges, creating ambitious artworks that share stories often overlooked in Australia's cultural life.

For more than 30 years, artist Robert Hannaford has painted many of Australia's most significant public figures including prime ministers, governors-general and judges. Evert Ploeg has spent decades painting some of Australia's most recognisable faces, from actor Deborah Mailman to conductor George Ellis. Gloria Pannka was a senior Western Arrernte artist and granddaughter of Albert Namatjira, continuing the Hermannsburg School watercolour tradition. Hubert Pareroultja was a senior Western Aranda-Luritja artist and nephew of Otto Pareroultja, one of the founding painters of the Hermannsburg School. Their works appear alongside digital portraits created by young people through Big hART's Digital Pop-Up Lab.

Developed through more than 3 decades of collaboration with communities across Australia, the exhibition celebrates Elders, young people, artists and community leaders whose stories have helped shape the nation. The exhibition invites visitors to reflect on who is remembered, whose stories are celebrated and how portraiture honours the people who enrich Australia's cultural life.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples are advised that the following contains the names of deceased persons.

Dates

12 Oct 2026 – 11 Jul 2027
October 2026
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November 2026
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December 2026
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January 2027
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February 2027
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March 2027
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April 2027
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May 2027
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June 2027
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July 2027
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Map of the venue locationMap of the venue location
Australian Parliament House1 Parliament Drive, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, AustraliaGet Directions
  • Carpark
  • Family Friendly
  • Parents Room
  • Public Toilet
  • Restaurant
  • Electric Vehicle Charging Point
  • Caters for people who use a wheelchair.
  • Welcomes and assists people who have challenges with learning, communication, understanding and behaviour. (includes people with autism, intellectual disability, Down syndrome, acquired brain injury (ABI), dyslexia and dementia)
  • Caters for people who are blind or have vision loss.
  • Caters for people who are deaf or have hearing loss.
  • Caters for people with sufficient mobility to climb a few steps but who would benefit from fixtures to aid balance. (This includes people using walking frames and mobility aids)
  • Caters for people with high support needs who travel with a support person.
  • Caters for people with allergies and intolerances.

Contacts

02 6277 5399
[email protected]
aph.gov.au

When

Next on 12 Oct 2026

Where

Australian Parliament House, 1 Parliament Drive, Canberra

Price

Free

Accessibility

Actively welcomes people with access needs.