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PRESENCE · BECOMING · ASCENDANCE
What we inherit. What we create. What we carry forward.
PRESENT ASCENDANCE
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Present Ascendants is a digital creative and cultural platform bringing together diasporic, culturally diverse, Indigenous and grassroots artists through contemporary art, exhibitions and exchange.
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Artist achievements · 2026Celebrating Jack Young: 2026 Brisbane Portrait Prize Next Gen FinalistA proud Ascendant of the Waka Waka people, Jack Young is one of just 15 Next Gen finalists. Discover the story behind his self-portrait, Jack Young and the Sky, and the creative journey that brought it to life.Read full articleClose article
Present Ascendants is proud to celebrate Jack Young, a proud Ascendant of the Waka Waka people, on being selected as a finalist in the 2026 Brisbane Portrait Prize Next Gen.
The Brisbane Portrait Prize celebrates contemporary portraiture and the people, stories and communities of Meanjin/Brisbane. Its Next Gen category provides a platform for artists aged 18 and under to explore portraiture through personal and contemporary perspectives.
Jack is one of just 15 finalists selected in the Next Gen category, with the opportunity to receive the $2,000 Next Gen Prize and have his work exhibited at the State Library of Queensland.
Jack Young and the Sky
Jack's selected work, Jack Young and the Sky, is a self-portrait created in acrylic on canvas. Through the work, Jack explores identity, culture, memory, belonging and his connection to the Waka Waka people.
Raised between Brisbane and the Cherbourg community, Jack reflects on both his personal journey and the cultural history that continues to shape his sense of self.
The clouds and open sky within the portrait carry particular meaning. For Jack, they represent peace, reflection and spiritual connection. Cloud watching offers a space away from the noise of everyday life, allowing room for thought, healing and self-understanding.
By bringing his own image together with these elements of nature, Jack's portrait becomes an exploration of identity, memory and belonging, while honouring his ancestry and the knowledge passed through generations.
Supporting emerging creative voices
Jack's portrait was developed through a portraiture unit guided by Maia, Founder and Creative Director of Present Ascendants. The program encouraged young artists to consider the self as a starting point for artistic practice and to explore how identity, culture and belonging can be expressed through portraiture.
Seeing Jack's work recognised at this level is a meaningful reflection of his growing creative voice, commitment and emerging artistic practice.
We are incredibly proud to celebrate this achievement and look forward to seeing where Jack's creative journey takes him next.
Congratulations, Jack.
The 2026 Brisbane Portrait Prize exhibition opens at the State Library of Queensland on 18 September 2026.
ABOUT PRESENT ASCENDANTS
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Present Ascendance is about becoming conscious of what we carry, what we transform and what we create now - recognising that what we do in the present becomes part of what others inherit.
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Present Ascendants acknowledges Indigenous Peoples and Traditional Custodians of lands and waters across the world. We honour their continuing cultures, knowledge and relationships to land, waters and place, and pay our respects to Elders and knowledge holders, past and present.