Australia’s richest woman Gina Rinehart has asked for her portrait to be removed from an exhibition.
The portrait which is on display at the Canberra Art Gallery alongside other 21 colourful paintings- a satirical series by the award-winning artist Vincent Namatjira has generated a lot of controversy.
Some say the double chin in the billionaire’s painting portrays her in an unflattering light.
Rinehart who is upset at how she’s been depicted approached the National Gallery of Australia, NGA, to remove the portrait from public display.
The piece features alongside portraits of other major figures like King Charles, Queen Elizabeth II, and former Australian prime minister Julia Gillard as part of an exhibition titled Australia in Colour.
However, Aboriginal artist, Namatjira who is famous for his caricature style of painting, said he “paints the world as he sees it”.
“People don’t have to like my paintings, but I hope they take the time to look and think, ‘why has this Aboriginal bloke painted these powerful people? What is he trying to say?'”
“I paint people who are wealthy, powerful, or significant – people who have had an influence on this country, and on me personally, whether directly or indirectly, whether for good or for bad”, he added.
According to Australia’s ABC News, a spokesperson for the arts gallery said, “it welcomes the public having a dialogue on our collection and displays”.
The portrait which is on display at the Canberra Art Gallery alongside other 21 colourful paintings- a satirical series by the award-winning artist Vincent Namatjira has generated a lot of controversy.
Some say the double chin in the billionaire’s painting portrays her in an unflattering light.
Rinehart who is upset at how she’s been depicted approached the National Gallery of Australia, NGA, to remove the portrait from public display.
The piece features alongside portraits of other major figures like King Charles, Queen Elizabeth II, and former Australian prime minister Julia Gillard as part of an exhibition titled Australia in Colour.
However, Aboriginal artist, Namatjira who is famous for his caricature style of painting, said he “paints the world as he sees it”.
“People don’t have to like my paintings, but I hope they take the time to look and think, ‘why has this Aboriginal bloke painted these powerful people? What is he trying to say?'”
“I paint people who are wealthy, powerful, or significant – people who have had an influence on this country, and on me personally, whether directly or indirectly, whether for good or for bad”, he added.
According to Australia’s ABC News, a spokesperson for the arts gallery said, “it welcomes the public having a dialogue on our collection and displays”.

Olekanma Favour is a resourceful, self-motivated, and result-driven writer with a passion for crafting compelling narratives and insightful content. She loves tackling complex topics and weaving engaging stories.
When she’s not writing, Olekanma enjoys immersing herself in a good book, exploring new cuisines, and discovering new cultures.