RECENTLY announced Archibald Prize portraiture award finalist, David Darcy, opens his exhibition, Self Sabotage – Portraits by David Darcy at the Tamworth Regional Gallery tomorrow.
Showing until Sunday, June 21, Self Sabotage marks the first solo exhibition for the Murrurundi-based artist, who has achieved great recognition for traditional portraiture in Australia.
His repertoire includes winning the People’s Choice Award at the Archibald Prize in 2019 and National Portrait Gallery in 2020, and being commissioned by Parliament House to paint the Honourable Bob Katter for the Historic Memorial Collection
He was recently named a finalist in the 2026 Archibald Prize for his portrait of fellow artist Dale Frank titled To whom: let’s be Frank, it’s no walk in the park.
Excitingly, Darcy’s latest body of work, Self Sabotage, is a reinvention of his usual practice, where traditional portraiture merges with abstraction – faces bloom from landscapes, fracture into myths and borrow masks from memory.
Unlike previous work, these latest portraits fragment realism and embrace distortion colour, gesture and a little madness.
Darcy is unapologetically candid about his approach to this exhibition.
“You can lead a horse to water, but you can’t make it drink. I can’t change people’s minds, I can only be true to myself. I know many people won’t understand why I would sabotage my own practice, but I need to,” he said.
“I’m not seeking validation or approval, I’m pushing my own boundaries and preconceptions.
“Self Sabotage is my chance to let go, to feel the breeze in my hair, scream at the sky and throw paint at the wall.
“Like Luke Skywalker on his last run at the Death Star. I can’t explain why, I just have to trust my gut.”
Fellow Murrurundi artist and friend, Jelle van den Berg was fortunate to view the works before they made their way to Tamworth.
“Walking into this new exhibition one is struck by the diversity in the works,” van den Berg said.
“His interests have shifted dramatically, and his vulnerability shows in more ways than one.
“This search through experimentation is both brave and risky and he should be commended on his attitude and his openness.”
Opening the same day the Archibald Prize winner will be announced in Sydney, Self Sabotage continues the Gallery’s reputation for bringing nationally recognised talent to the Tamworth region.
Tamworth Regional Gallery director Bridget Guthrie said the gallery is thrilled to have David Darcy exhibiting.
“Connecting the Tamworth region with nationally renowned, award-winning artists is a key part of our purpose, and we’re proud to showcase exhibitions like Self Sabotage in a free, gallery space,” she said.
“The fact that David has placed as a finalist in the Archibald Prize is definitely a cherry on top.”
The official exhibition launch and artist talk will be held on Sunday, May 17 at 2pm where Darcy and special guest Jelle van den Berg will discuss the exhibition.
The event is free and open to the public to attend.
Also opening at the Gallery tomorrow is Exploration of Line, an exhibition that features local textile artists Sophie Honess, Sybil Orr and Tania Hartigan.
For opening hours and more information on the exhibitions, visit Tamworth Regional Gallery.
