Tamara Dean Wins 2026 Bowness Photography Prize with Underwater Self-Portrait
Tamara Dean has been awarded the 2026 Bowness Photography Prize in Australia for her work 'Metamorphosis,' which features an underwater self-portrait of her blossoming like a flower. She considers this piece a difficult endeavor that embodies ideas of fragility and renewal. Ingvar Kenne received an honourable mention for 'Termite Mounds on Marra Country,' while Justine Varga was recognized for 'Concussion #1,' which relates to her head injury from September 2025. Other notable entries included John Gollins's 'Pyramids by Moonlight,' Julia Rose van Haren's 'Blue mother,' and Bec Lorrimer's 'Courage Through Sisterhood.' This prize highlights contemporary Australian photography with a variety of themes and styles.
Key facts
- Tamara Dean won the 2026 Bowness Photography Prize for 'Metamorphosis,' an underwater self-portrait.
- Honourable mentions went to Ingvar Kenne for 'Termite Mounds on Marra Country' and Justine Varga for 'Concussion #1.'
- Justine Varga has suffered concussion symptoms since an accidental head injury at home in September 2025.
- John Gollins shot 'Pyramids by Moonlight' using only moonlight during a full moon near the Great Egyptian Museum.
- Bec Lorrimer's 'Courage Through Sisterhood' features Dunghutti sisters Trevanna, 22, and Deslie, 20, who completed their HSCs while facing parental loss, housing insecurity and pregnancy.
- Brett Nannup's 'See you soon' reflects on his mother Laurel's Alzheimer's diagnosis in 2012 and her printmaking practice.
- Silvi Glattauer made 'Glacier on Notice' in Patagonia in February 2026, shortly before Argentina's Congress amended its 2010 glacier law to open protected glacial zones to mining exploration.
- Clare Rae's 'Three Attempts After Joy' responds to Albert Tucker's 1940 photograph 'Joy Hester doing a handstand, Heide, Templestowe, Melbourne.'
Entities
Artists
- Tamara Dean
- Ingvar Kenne
- Justine Varga
- John Gollins
- Julia Rose van Haren
- Ruth O'Leary
- Bec Lorrimer
- Trevanna
- Deslie
- Brett Nannup
- Laurel
- Raymond Guymala
- Madeline Bishop
- Teo Treloar
- Ellen Dahl
- Scotty So
- Moose
- Leo Razak Harunah
- Felix Oliver
- Crystal Hua
- Nyree Cox
- Nathanael Edwards
- Maree Clarke
- Tobias Titz
- Rod McNicol
- Adam Ferguson
- Shea Kirk
- Silvi Glattauer
- Kent Morris
- Clare Rae
- Albert Tucker
- Joy Hester
- Damian Dillon
Institutions
- Bowness Photography Prize
- Dior
- Great Egyptian Museum
- Heide
- Mamiya
Locations
- Australia
- Marra Country
- Egypt
- Kempsey
- New South Wales
- Pinjarra
- West Arnhem plateau
- Melbourne
- Port Phillip
- Patagonia
- Argentina
- Saudi Arabia
- Templestowe
- Longwood