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Courtney Act meets her mosaic portrait at National Portrait Gallery
Courtney Act, the renowned drag performer and entertainer, has reacted emotionally to a stunning mosaic portrait of herself unveiled at the National Portrait Gallery in Canberra. The artwork, created by artist Paul Yore over a year using thousands of found objects, depicts the journey of Shane Jenek, the person behind the Courtney Act persona. The mosaic incorporates personal items including discarded fake fingernails, sequins from her dress, and a replica of the Nokia phone she used to tell her parents she was gay. Yore described the painstaking process of creating the piece, using tweezers to place each item delicately, comparing it to making 'a giant piece of jewellery'. Courtney expressed deep emotional resonance with the portrait, reflecting on her journey from a young boy feeling out of place in Brisbane to becoming a celebrated drag icon. 'When an institution like the National Portrait Gallery commissions a portrait of you, it feels very validating,' she said. The portrait, titled 'In Between' after one of her songs, was unveiled on Friday with Courtney describing it as 'so beautiful' and 'not what I was expecting, in the most wonderful way'. National Portrait Gallery director Bree Pickering praised the work as a 'monument to queer culture' and a fitting tribute to Courtney's impact on Australian entertainment. The portrait will be on public display from Saturday, October 24, with Courtney hosting a drag storytime event and participating in a conversation with the artist later that day. The artwork represents a significant moment for queer representation in national cultural institutions, highlighting the intersection of personal identity and artistic expression.