National Portrait Gallery hosts Photographic Portrait Prize survey

The National Portrait Gallery is hosting a two-decade survey of its annual Photographic Portrait Prize. The exhibition, which begins in Canberra before touring Australia, features selected finalists from the prize's 19-year history.

A notable inclusion is Harold David’s 2017 portrait of former Prime Minister Bob Hawke, titled ‘The Honourable Bob Hawke Savouring a Strawberry Milkshake’. The candid image, which won the people’s choice award in 2018, depicts the late statesman in a playful and unconventional manner.

Curator Isobel Parker Philip noted that the exhibition aims to showcase works that remain urgent and reflect themes such as community, family, regional life, climate change, and migration, representing a broad range of the Australian experience.