Krystyna Campbell-Pretty AM
Some lives are not defined by a single achievement, but by the quiet accumulation of moments, relationships and values that shape who we become.
Krystyna Campbell-Pretty's collage is a window into the world behind the public profile. Family photographs sit alongside treasured places, objects of beauty, memories of travel and the home that has become both a sanctuary and a gathering place for generations of friends, artists and changemakers.
Each image tells part of a much larger story: one of resilience, generosity, independence and a lifelong belief that beauty is not simply something we admire, but something we create through the way we live.
Together, these fragments reveal the woman beyond the honours and philanthropy, a life shaped by curiosity, compassion and the quiet conviction that our greatest legacy is not what we accumulate, but what we leave behind for others.
A Letter to My Younger Self
Always be yourself. True to yourself
Life has many faces
And many phases
Dont rush them
There is a time for everything.
Krystyna Campbell-Pretty AM
Letter from Tony Ellwood
Dear Helen,
I have known Krystyna throughout my term as the Director of the National Gallery of Victoria. Krystyna has become a wonderful friend and collaborator throughout this time. Her passion for the entire collection is truly remarkable and rare.
While there have been so many extraordinary fashion acquisitions, that she is highly regarded for, that have truly transformed both our holdings and our reputation as a major world collector of fashion, Krystyna has also demonstrated interest across all, and I do mean all, collecting fields of our collection. These can often be some of the quietest aspects of our collecting, for example, investing heavily in works destined for our archive for research purposes. Not an area that garners a lot of attention, but contributes enormously to research and scholarship. There doesn’t seem to be an area of the NGV collection where Krystyna isn’t either intellectually curious or philanthropic. She is truly one of a kind!
Krystyna has also developed, what I would call, industry standard knowledge about how to acquire works, understanding deep knowledge about conservation, collection relevance, rarity, provenance, etc. It is a remarkable and rare skill. This is all due to the affection and respect she has developed, both here and internationally.
Another quiet but extremely meaningful area of her support is for funding to give access to disadvantaged schools to the NGV. This is life changing for the children that attend this. It also clearly demonstrates Krystyna’s inclusive and sensitive social agenda.
We call Krystyna our Fairy Godmother because she creates magic for us! Every week! She is deeply loved and admired.
There is no one like her in our community or country. I feel blessed to know her.
Tony Ellwood
Director of the National Gallery of Victoria (NGV).
