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The National Portrait Gallery acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of Country throughout Australia and recognises the continuing connection to lands, waters and communities. We pay our respect to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures and to Elders both past and present.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander viewers are warned that this website contains images of deceased persons.

The Gallery’s Acknowledgement of Country, and information on culturally sensitive and restricted content and the use of historic language in the collection can be found here.

Susan Norrie

1990
Anne Zahalka

type C Duraflex print on paper (70.2 cm x 70.0 cm)

Susan Norrie (b. 1953) explores political and environmental issues through installation, photography and video. Norrie trained at the National Art School and the Victorian College of the Arts before being included in a group exhibition at the Art Gallery of New South Wales in 1980. The gallery bought one of her paintings in 1983, and the following year her works were included in the Australian Visions: 1984 Exxon International Exhibition at the Guggenheim Museum in New York. Since her first overseas artist-in-residency in New York in 1990 she has been represented in solo and group shows around the world. Known initially for her painting, in the late 1990s Norrie began experimenting with the moving image, including her iconic six-channel video installation, Undertow (2002). Norrie represented Australia at the 52nd Venice Biennale in 2007 and was a recipient of the Australia Council Visual Arts Award in 2019.

Throughout her career, Anne Zahalka has produced an ongoing series of artist portraits. Initially her portraits were staged in elaborate settings, such as this portrait of Norrie. The gold brocade curtains, used as a backdrop and draped over the chair, are a nod to traditional portraiture. This portrait was included in a portfolio of images of Australian women artists organised by art dealer Leo Christie as a Cancer Council fundraiser.

Gift of Leo Christie 2003. Donated through the Australian Government's Cultural Gifts Program.
© Anne Zahalka/Copyright Agency, 2024

The National Portrait Gallery respects the artistic and intellectual property rights of others. Works of art from the collection are reproduced as per the Australian Copyright Act 1968 (Cth). The use of images of works from the collection may be restricted under the Act. Requests for a reproduction of a work of art can be made through a Reproduction request. For further information please contact NPG Copyright.

Artist and subject

Anne Zahalka (age 33 in 1990)

Susan Norrie (age 37 in 1990)

Subject professions

Visual arts and crafts

Donated by

Leo Christie (10 portraits)

© National Portrait Gallery 2024
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Canberra, ACT 2600, Australia

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ABN: 54 74 277 1196

The National Portrait Gallery acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of Country throughout Australia and recognises the continuing connection to lands, waters and communities. We pay our respect to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures and to Elders past and present. We respectfully advise that this site includes works by, images of, names of, voices of and references to deceased people.

This website comprises and contains copyrighted materials and works. Copyright in all materials and/or works comprising or contained within this website remains with the National Portrait Gallery and other copyright owners as specified.

The National Portrait Gallery respects the artistic and intellectual property rights of others. The use of images of works of art reproduced on this website and all other content may be restricted under the Australian Copyright Act 1968 (Cth). Requests for a reproduction of a work of art or other content can be made through a Reproduction request. For further information please contact NPG Copyright.

The National Portrait Gallery is an Australian Government Agency