The Percivals 2026
The journey to Townsville carried its own atmosphere long before the gallery doors even opened.
The very warm and humid 28-degree weather was, unexpectedly, a welcome relief from the heavy Sydney winter I had left behind only hours earlier. Stepping back into tropical Queensland again felt strangely familiar after earlier years living and working in the north.
By the time we arrived at the gallery, the exhibition was finally underway after months of preparation, uncertainty, printing, framing, freight coordination, artist statements, and waiting.
Then came the surprise.
Walking into the gallery and discovering Taken positioned prominently on the main wall immediately shifted the entire experience. What had existed privately for so long, as an idea, a collaboration, a responsibility, and a deeply considered portrait, was suddenly holding space publicly within one of Australia’s major regional portrait exhibitions.
The placement gave the work a strong visual presence within the room, but what stayed with me most throughout the evening were the conversations and connections that unfolded around it. Fellow artists, photographers, visitors, and gallery attendees all brought different responses, stories, and perspectives into the space. The opening became less about competition and more about shared practice, resilience, and the strange path artists travel simply to arrive at a wall together.
Seeing viewers pause in front of Taken, return for a second look, or quietly read the accompanying statement was deeply moving. The work responds to Australia’s history of forced adoption, formally acknowledged through Royal Commission inquiries and national apologies in 2012 and 2013. Watching people engage with Karen’s story in such a public setting transformed the portrait from a private act of creation into a collective moment of reflection.
It was a wonderful surprise to find my artwork submission "Taken" on the main wall featured as you entered the exhibition space.
Opening night of the Percival Photographic Portrait Prize 2026 at the Perc Tucker Regional Gallery in Townsville.
The Percivals official finalists publication
Karen accompanied me to the event and, in many ways, the trip became a shared excursion through North Queensland. Alongside the anticipation surrounding The Percivals 2026 at Perc Tucker Regional Gallery, we also explored parts of the region together, taking the ferry across to Magnetic Island, walking along The Strand at sunrise, and joining a local bus tour through the area.
By the end of the evening, the surprise was no longer simply that Taken had been placed on the main wall.
It was the reminder that the work had already found its place the moment people stopped, looked closely, and connected with it.
More information about the Percivals visit the Perc Tucker Regional Gallery, Townsville City Council official site.