A look at artists’ self-portraits, which allow great freedom for artists to express their current moods, thoughts, feeling, and style. These artworks appear like diary entries, as they reflect the artist's present state of mind.

Curated by Robert Laking

Image: Alan Pearson, Self-portrait, Collection New Zealand Portrait Gallery

Best known for his sublime, ethereal landscapes with dense narratives, A Portrait of Ūawa Tolaga Bay He Whakaahua o Ūawa is a major survey of Walsh's portrait paintings.

This exhibition asks what meaning is conveyed by the choice of clothing in a portrait?

Curated by Robert Laking

This exhibition tracks a century of artistic renderings and re-imagining of one of New Zealand's greatest writers.

Curated by Penelope Jackson

Image: Anne Rice, Portrait of Katherine Mansfield, 1918, Collection Te Papa Tongarewa

This exhibition celebrates the life and art of expatriate New Zealand artist Douglas MacDiarmid. 

Image: Douglas MacDiarmid, Self Portrait on wet paving stones, 2010-13, Acrylic on paper, Private collection, Wellington

Julia Holden’s art practice breaches perceptions of what painting and portraiture can be. This exhibition brings together a selection of works produced over the last seven years to illustrate the various ways Holden has pushed boundaries; combining painting with performance, photography and animated film.

Situated Selves shows how the once popular studio portrait was eclipsed in popularity by an informal, documentary style from the 1960s onwards.

image: Brian Brake, 'Doreen Blumhardt' 1980

The biennial Adam Portraiture Award is New Zealand’s premier portrait prize.

Image: Winner of the People’s Choice Award, Justine Turnbull