Summer Show 2026

The Summer Show is an annual exhibition showcasing the work of our
members and celebrating the rhythms of the tropical summer in Far
North Queensland. This season brings dramatic changes to the landscape,
intense sunlight, heavy rains, lush greenery, and powerful storms and
cyclones that shape life across the region.
Held at the beginning of the year 2026, the exhibition signifies a bright
and generous commencement to the season. Through its very title, The
Summer Show, it announces the warmth, vitality, and abundance of the
tropical summer in Far North Queensland.
For First Nations artists, the experience of nature goes well beyond what
can be seen. Their artworks reflect deep cultural and spiritual ties to land,
water, weather, and seasonal cycles. Many works draw inspiration from
lived experience, memories of growing up on Country, and knowledge
shared through storytelling by Elders and
family members across generations.
Through painting, printmaking, ceramics, and ornaments, the artists
turn these connections into visual expressions. Line, colour, texture,
and movement serve as ways to convey the presence and energy of the
natural world, from the gentle rhythm of rainfall to the mighty forces of
storms that mark the wet season.
Featuring 13 artists and 35 artworks, The Summer Show 2026 brings
together a variety of materials, perspectives, and artistic voices. Each
piece tells its own story while adding to a broader reflection o n life in the
tropical north. Together, the artworks invite audiences to experience the
beauty, power, and spirit of nature through the eyes of First Nations artists
and their lasting bond to Country.