Discover Irish links at Brisbane Portrait Prize

Queensland Irish Association Members are invited to join in a free guided tour of the 2026 Brisbane Portrait Prize exhibition at the State Library of Queensland on Saturday, 7 November.

Led by QIA member John Cleary, the 30-minute tour will highlight three works with strong Irish connections among the portraits on display.

The selected works include My Light by Genevieve Brady, winner of the 2026 Next Gen Prize; Ruddy Man by Conor Knight; and Soft Light by Martina Clarke, a portrait of Conor Knight.

The Irish links add another dimension to an exhibition celebrating the people and stories captured by artists. Conor Knight’s portrait, Ruddy Man, and Martina Clarke’s portrait of Conor offer two different artistic perspectives, while Brady’s prize-winning work brings its own family connection to the collection.

Our tour poster features Evocation, a work by QIA member Isla Corbett that was a finalist in the 2022 Brisbane Portrait Prize Next Gen competition.

Members are welcome to meet at the SLQ Gallery on Level 2 of the State Library of Queensland, Stanley Place, South Brisbane, ahead of the 11am start.

The tour is free, and no bookings are required. Members are asked to arrive a few minutes before the tour begins.

Brisbane Portrait Prize 2026 guided tour

Date: Saturday, 7 November 2026

Time: 11am

Meeting point: SLQ Gallery, Level 2, State Library of Queensland, Stanley Place, South Brisbane

Cost: Free

Duration: Approximately 30 minutes

More info: brisbaneportraitprize.org/tours/

For QIA members, this is an opportunity to enjoy the exhibition together, support a fellow member’s initiative and discover some of the Irish stories represented in Brisbane’s contemporary portraiture.