A Radical Art History
23 September - 1 November 2026
A Radical Art History
Artists, Ideas and Cultural Exchange Across Forty Years
Kim Mahood’s sculpture Trapped Horse in storage at Umbrella ahead of the touring exhibition Outlying and Far-reaching, 1991. Photographer: Unknown.
Through artists, ideas and cultural exchange, A Radical Art History explores forty years of contemporary arts practice in North Queensland and beyond. Rather than presenting a conventional institutional history, an interactive digital archive and an in-person exhibition trace the networks of people, projects and conversations that have defined Umbrella Studio Contemporary Arts since 1986. Drawing on photographs, publications, artworks, correspondence, oral histories and ephemera, the archives reveal how an artist-led initiative evolved into an internationally connected platform for experimentation, critical dialogue and regional leadership.
Organised through four interconnected themes: Lines of Inquiry, Sovereign Presence, The Constellation and No Fixed Centre, visitors are invited to navigate exhibitions, performances, commissions, publications and partnerships across time, uncovering unexpected connections between people, places and ideas. Together, these thematic pathways reveal a story of artistic experimentation, leadership, collaboration, advocacy and the movement of ideas across communities, geographies and generations.
The exhibition outcome will feature objects from the physical archive, including photographic slides and conference papers, alongside a re-staged ephemeral artwork from Umbrella’s early exhibition program. More than a historical record, the archives are a living resource that reflects the complexity of regional practice and the enduring influence of artists in shaping cultural life. It invites audiences to revisit familiar histories, discover overlooked stories and explore the relationships that continue to inform contemporary practice today.
Launch Event
6pm Wednesday 23 September 2026 | The exhibition and digital archive will officially open alongside the launch of PUNQ 2026 and Umbrella's NAFA exhibitions.
The digital archive link will appear here. | Free event | Speeches from approx. 6:30pm
Please note: Umbrella will be closed for install from Monday 7 September until the launch event.
Produced by Umbrella Studio Contemporary Arts in partnership with James Cook University, this project was made possible through the Beyond the Studio: 40 Years of Umbrella fundraising campaign, supported by Bamford Community Care, Mitsubishi Electric through Capricorn Air Conditioning, the Creative Australia Plus1 Program, and the generosity of individual donors who helped begin digitising one of regional Australia's most significant contemporary art archives. | Umbrella gratefully acknowledges Johanna Wiggers, Lead Researcher, whose scholarship and dedication made this archive possible and the Townsville Citylibraries for their support.
Also on display during this period
All Exhibitions23 September -
1 November 2026
Open Hours
Tues - Fri: 9am-5pm
Sat - Sun: 9am-1pm
Gallery closed Mondays, public holidays and during exhibition install weeks.
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Contact
408 Flinders Street,
Gurambilbarra / Townsville,
Qld, 4810 Australia
PO Box 2394,
Gurambilbarra / Townsville,
Qld, 4810 Australia
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Acknowledgement of Country
Umbrella Studio Contemporary Arts respectfully acknowledges the Wulgurukaba of Gurambilbarra and Yunbenun and the surrounding groups of our region - Bindal, Gugu Badhun, Nywaigi, Warrgamay, Bandjin and Gudjal - as the Traditional Custodians of the land on which we gather, share and celebrate local creative practice. We pay our respects to Elders past and present. We acknowledge Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders as the first people of Australia. They have never ceded sovereignty and remain strong in their enduring connection to land and Culture.
Umbrella is a Member & Signatory of the Indigenous Art Code. This means we are committed to fair and ethical trade with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists, and transparency in the promotion and sale of artwork. As a Dealer Member and signatory to the Code we must act fairly, honestly, professionally and in good conscience in all direct or indirect dealings with artists.
Help Us Elevate Regional Artists
We champion artists, amplifying their distinctive and authentic voices. We are an inclusive platform for independent, experimental, contemporary arts practice in local, national, and international arts landscapes. We have a 39 year history of connecting artists and audiences and we couldn't do it without your support.
Umbrella Studio Contemporary Arts is registered as a Deductible Gift Recipient (DGR) with the Australian Taxation Office. Donations to Umbrella are tax deductible for amounts of $2 or more. Click here to donate.
Acknowledgements
Umbrella is supported by the Queensland Government through Arts Queensland, part of the Department of Education, and the Visual Art, Craft and Design Framework, an initiative of the Australian, state and territory governments. | Umbrella is supported by the Tim Fairfax Family Foundation and receives funding from Creative Australia through the Australian Cultural Fund. | Townsville City Council is a funding partner of Umbrella's program. | Vetta Creative is Umbrella's fortieth anniversary creative partner.
