It’s Archibald Prize time at the Art Gallery of NSW! This year’s exhibition features 54 portraits of fascinating Australian personalities, including Cate Blanchett, Nick Cave, Adam Goodes, Missy Higgins and Barry Humphries. And of course our 2014 winning face – the ever-elegant Penelope Seidler by Fiona Lowry.

But there are also a number of other notable faces on our walls – from 17th-century royals, courtesy of London’s National Portrait Gallery, to spraypainted politicians by Australian artist Tony Garifalakis.

So for the next month, Art After Hours is bringing the portrait to life. Join us as we chat to artists, sitters and celebrities about identity and personas, biography and individuality, and tell the stories that lie behind these painted faces.

For Art After Hours, the entire Gallery will be open until 10pm. You’re in for an unbeatable night out, with live music, a pop-up bar and delicious food now brought to you by Matt Moran’s MorSul catering group. Don’t forget there is a courtesy bus running every 15 minutes throughout the evening, dropping at various city transport hubs.

Program highlights

Celebrity talks, 6.30pm

30 July: Have you ever wondered what it’s like to be the subject of a portrait? A seasoned professional in this respect, the Honourable Michael Kirby joins us to share his insider knowledge on how to be the perfect subject.

6 August: Join Triple J’s Tom Tilley for a chat with a 2014 Archibald Prize finalist and their subject.

13 August: Normally a popular facilitator of our interviews at Art After Hours, Emma Ayres is our subject this evening. She and Martin Tighe will talk to Richard Morecroft about their experiences as sitter and artist in the Archibald Prize.

20 August: Debra Oswald is head writer of the much-loved television series Offspring. Just as an artist develops a persona with paint, Debra joins us to share how she crafts her characters with words.

27 August: In conversation with Jonathan Biggins, Wendy Whiteley joins us to reflect on the late Brett Whiteley’s Archibald Prize-winning portraits and the impact that winning can have on the career of an up-and-coming artist.

Portraits film series, 7.15pm

From Capote to Downfall, these intimate explorations of the individual bring a new dimension to portraiture. Starts 20 August.

More information

See the full Art After Hours program

Art After Hours is supported by Gallery members.