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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.

Cat at mirror, 2015

Noel McKenna

oil on plywood (sight: 42.0cm x 44.0cm)
Cat at mirror, 2015

A self-confessed ‘hoarder of images’, McKenna often makes paintings of everyday moments he’s seen in magazines, newspapers or online. Cat at mirror is inspired by an internet image of a cat caught checking itself out in a bathroom mirror. The feline’s pose and grumpy expression exemplify the way that many of the animals in McKenna’s work are imbued with human sensibilities. Often operating as intermediaries between the viewer and the world contained within the painting, their presence offers an accessible point of entry into a scene. At once familiar and disarming, McKenna’s animals add pockets of delight to otherwise ordinary spaces.

Collection of Mark and Louise Nelson

Related information

Cat at mirror, 2015 Noel McKenna
Cat at mirror, 2015 Noel McKenna
Cat at mirror, 2015 Noel McKenna
Cat at mirror, 2015 Noel McKenna

Noel McKenna

'Interiors can tell a lot about a person'

Portrait story

Noel McKenna on why he became an artist and his love of animals and interiors.
Dr Joseph Brown with Two Typists
Dr Joseph Brown with Two Typists
Dr Joseph Brown with Two Typists
Dr Joseph Brown with Two Typists

John Brack x Noel McKenna

A face in the mirror

Exhibition

from Friday 3 April

John Brack x Noel McKenna: A face in the mirror brings together the work of two influential Australian artists.
The National Portrait Gallery building front entrance
The National Portrait Gallery building front entrance
The National Portrait Gallery building front entrance
The National Portrait Gallery building front entrance

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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 past and present. We respectfully advise that this site includes works by, images of, names of, voices of and references to deceased people.

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