Noongar and Spinifex visual storyteller, Tace Stevens, was announced as Winner of the 2025 Olive Cotton Award at the official opening of the finalist exhibition at the Tweed Regional Gallery.
Tace Stevens (b.1992) ‘Uncle Bill 2023’, giclée print. Acquired as the Winner of the 2025 Olive Cotton Award. Courtesy the artist. (Supplied by Tweed Regional Gallery.)
Tace Stevens is a self-taught documentary photographer with a film degree from the Australian Film, Television and Radio School (AFTRS). Her portrait Uncle Bill was selected as the winning portrait from a field of 65 finalists, including emerging and established photographers from across Australia. Stevens is the 13th artist to win the Award, which was first presented in 2005. The Award was judged by Sally McInerney, photographer and daughter of Olive Cotton; Glenn Iseger-Pilkington (Nhanda Yamatji and Noongar Peoples) Director, Content, Strategy & Partnerships for the Aboriginal Cultural Centre project, WA; Angela Connor, Senior Curator, Museum of Australian Photography (MAPh), VIC; and Shaune Lakin, Senior Curator, Photography, National Gallery of Australia (NGA), ACT. The decision was a unanimous choice. The judges also highly commended images crated by Shea Kirk, Hilary Wardhaugh, Ayman Kaake, and Simon Harsent.
The exhibition will run until 2 November 2025. The Gallery is open Wednesday to Sunday from 10 am to 4 pm (closed Monday and Tuesday). Entry to the exhibition is free. A full list of finalists is available on the Gallery’s website.
