| Brian Cassey Photographer Cairns Australia

… really nice to get a ‘WIN’ of sorts at the The Percival Portrait Prize in Townsville on the weekend.

On Saturday eve my portrait of highly respected Australian artist Tony Clark … made in his tin shed studio at Mission Beach whilst he prepared works for his massive “Unsculpted” exhibition in Melbourne last year … was announced as Runner-Up and ‘Highly Commended’ in the photographic portrait prize. (Top image and third image below.)

The biennial Percival Portrait Prize announcement opening eve at the historic Perc Tucker Gallery was packed to the rafters with invited attendees and a terrific event. The prize has grown massively in stature since its inception way back in 2007 and now attracts art works from Australia’s most talented creatives. The prize is split into three sections … portrait painting, photographic portraiture and animal portraits.

This year the three prizes were judged by very prestigious art experts. The photographic prize was judged by the delightful Serena Bentley … vastly experienced Senior Curator at the National Portrait Gallery in Canberra (bottom pic at Saturdays opening). Many Thanks, Serena, for selecting my work “Unsculpted – Australian Artist Tony Clark” to a second place. (It was pleasure being interviewed briefly by Serena during Sunday mornings ‘Judges Talks’.)

The painting prize was judged by renowned art historian, critic and curator Sasha Grishin, who took pains to declare the Percivals painted works more favourable this year than the Archibalds ! Respected art lecturer Ron McBurnie had the fun job of selecting the best of the animal portrait entries.

I also had a further exhibit on the Percival walls. A photographic portrait I’m very fond of featuring friend and subject David Glasheen (who we have sadly recently lost to this World), entitled “Millionaire Castaway”, was also selected as a finalist. (Image 2 below.)

Tasmanian Cassandra McMahon beat me to the $10,000 acquisitive Percival Photographic Portrait Prize with her great work “Empty Vessel”, whilst Elena Churilova collared the painting portrait prize of $40,000 with her work “Smartphonisation”. ‘Animals’ winner was Catherine Stewart with “Eye On The Weather”.

A great and rewarding weekend and well worth the visit to our ‘lesser’ neighbour down the coast 😉 .

Thank you to the Townsville City Council who do an amazing job administering the very special awards … and to the great staff of the Perc Tucker Gallery (special mention for curatorial assistant Chloe Lausen – in 3rd pic below installing the exhibition – from the Townsville Bulletin) … to the judges (in particular photographic judge Serena – bottom pic at the opening) … not forgetting the many artists, friends, family and interested parties who made the weekend so special.

(Oh yes … satisfyingly, it’s now five times in a row that my work has been featured amongst the Percival finalists … and you may see my previous selected portraits here … 2024, 2022, 2020, 2018.)