The National Portrait Gallery’s latest exhibition, Carol Jerrems: Portraits, offers a powerful tribute to one of Australia’s most influential photographers, showcasing over 140 works that highlight the depth, intimacy, and social relevance of Jerrems’ remarkable career. The exhibition, on display exclusively at the National Portrait Gallery until March 2, 2025, marks a significant moment in the ongoing re-examination of Jerrems’ impact on both Australian photography and visual culture.
Jerrems, who passed away tragically at just 30 years old in 1980, captured a fleeting yet pivotal era in Australian history. From 1970 to 1980, her lens explored the seismic social changes of the 1970s, documenting the rise of the women’s movement, the pulse of First Nations activism, the emergence of youth subcultures, and the burgeoning music and arts scenes. In just over a decade, Jerrems produced a body of work that transcended personal portraiture, offering a window into the cultural and political shifts of the time.
The exhibition features a diverse range of photographs, including both lesser-known early works and some of her most iconic images, such as Vale Street (1975), which has come to define her approach to portraiture. Jerrems’ photographs are at once candid and performative, vulnerable yet tough, melancholic but joyful. Her subjects—friends, lovers, cultural figures—are portrayed with a rare tenderness, yet her compositions remain purposeful and dramatic, often emphasizing tension and emotion.
One of the key themes of the exhibition is how Jerrems used her photography to capture the changing roles of women in society. In 1975, she published the groundbreaking A Book About Australian Women, a collection of portraits and reflections that remains an important text in the history of feminist visual culture. The National Portrait Gallery’s exhibition coincides with the 50th anniversary of this influential book, which featured portraits of women like Anne Summers, Bobbi Sykes, Evonne Goolagong, and Linda Jackson, all of whom were cultural pioneers in their own right.
Jerrems’ work was not only a visual exploration of her immediate social circle but also an insightful commentary on the political movements shaping the landscape of the 1970s. Her portraits of women and First Nations activists, along with her images of the youth subcultures of the time, challenge conventional representations of identity and gender. Jerrems was committed to telling the stories of people whose experiences were often marginalized in mainstream media. Her work remains a critical record of a transformative period in Australian history.
Curated by experts from the National Gallery of Australia, the National Library of Australia, and the National Portrait Gallery, Carol Jerrems: Portraits is a tribute to a photographer whose work has only grown in significance over time. The exhibition includes high-quality reproductions of Jerrems’ photographs, vintage prints, and contact sheets, providing an intimate view of her creative process. New essays and responses from contemporary writers, curators, and poets offer fresh perspectives on her legacy and the enduring relevance of her work.
In a bid to make the exhibition more accessible, the National Portrait Gallery has introduced free entry on Fridays, allowing more people the opportunity to experience Jerrems’ work. Regular tickets are also available, with discounted rates for seniors, students, and other concession holders, ensuring that the exhibition is open to all members of the public.
Visitors are also encouraged to explore the accompanying publication, Carol Jerrems: Portraits, which offers a deeper dive into her artistic journey. Featuring more than 130 vintage prints and accompanied by critical essays, the book reflects on the photographer’s lasting impact on Australian visual culture.
The Carol Jerrems: Portraits exhibition provides a rare opportunity to engage with the work of a photographer whose bold, empathetic approach to portraiture has left a lasting imprint on the way we understand identity, gender, and social change in Australia. Jerrems’ legacy as a documenter of her time—capturing not just moments, but the very spirit of the era—remains as relevant today as ever.
Carol Jerrems (1949–1980) was an influential Australian photographer renowned for her intimate portraits of friends, lovers, and figures within progressive social and creative circles. Born in suburban Melbourne, Jerrems studied art and design in the late 1960s and early 1970s, winning awards for her work, including the Institute of Australian Photographers Award in 1970. Throughout the 1970s, she exhibited widely at venues such as Brummels Gallery and the Australian Centre for Photography.
Her iconic works, like Vale Street (1975), captured the spirit of Australian counter-culture, documenting activists, creatives, and their aspirations. In addition to her personal projects, Jerrems worked on commissions and received grants from organizations like the Australia Council and the Australian Film Commission.
In 1979, Jerrems became seriously ill with a rare liver disease, passing away in February 1980 at the age of 30. Her legacy continues to be honored, with exhibitions like Living in the 70s (1990–1991) and Up Close (2010) showcasing her groundbreaking work.
The exhibition is on show until March 2, 2025. For more information and to plan your visit, check out the National Portrait Gallery’s website.
Bookings available
Adult $20 / Concession $18 / Circle of Friends $16 / Under 30s $10 / Under 18s free / Free on Fridays!
Ticketing
Tickets are valid all day and for multiple entries on the date of your visit. The National Portrait Gallery is committed to providing an affordable ticketing structure that encourages accessibility. Means-tested concession tickets are available for people, including seniors, students, Centrelink cardholders and pension cardholders. Proof of age may be requested. See full Concession and Discount Policy for more information. Tickets are free on Fridays for everyone.
Source: National Portrait Gallery
