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The National Portrait Gallery acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of Country throughout Australia and recognises the continuing connection to lands, waters and communities. We pay our respect to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures and to Elders both past and present.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander viewers are warned that this website contains images of deceased persons.

Leith at the Dog Show, 2025

Jo Duck

National Photographic Portrait Prize 2026 Finalist

pigment photographic print (sheet: 50cm x 40cm. frame: 51.9cm x 41.7cm depth 3.8cm)
Leith at the Dog Show, 2025

‘Creating staged portraits of fictional characters lights my fire. Even more so, finding collaborators who immediately understand the absurdity and jump on board brings me pure joy. Actor Maria Angelico and I exchanged some texts about dog shows then BAM, within hours we had wigs, costumes, her dog Peta and a two-hour community hall booking. The result is “Leith”, who is trying to earn respect from a community who don’t like him. He’s entered the dog show for acknowledgment, but Peta doesn’t respect him either. She performs for cameras, but the second after this shot, she bolts. Leith plods after, humiliated.’

Photographer Jo Duck lives and works in Naarm/Melbourne. Driven by an appreciation for all things camp, joyful and absurd, Duck’s photography centres on crafting unique characters who live confidently in worlds of their own.

People's Choice Award

National Photographic Portrait Prize 2026

The People’s Choice Award is generously supported by the Calvert-Jones Foundation, with the artist who wins the most votes receiving $10,000.

Voting closes Wednesday 30 September 2026.

Submit vote

National Photographic Portrait Prize 2026
(More information, View all 30 photos)

The Falling
Walkabout
Blak & Bare
Between us

Other NPPP photos from Jo Duck
(More information)

Stripe search, 2023 Jo Duck
2024 Finalist
Marawa The Amazing, 2022 Jo Duck
2023 Finalist

Related information

National Photographic Portrait Prize 2025 exhibition display
National Photographic Portrait Prize 2025 exhibition display
National Photographic Portrait Prize 2025 exhibition display
National Photographic Portrait Prize 2025 exhibition display

National Photographic Portrait Prize 2026

Upcoming exhibition

from Saturday 22 August

The National Photographic Portrait Prize 2026 marks the end of one of the Gallery’s longest-running exhibitions.
The National Portrait Gallery building front entrance
The National Portrait Gallery building front entrance
The National Portrait Gallery building front entrance
The National Portrait Gallery building front entrance

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The National Portrait Gallery acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of Country throughout Australia and recognises the continuing connection to lands, waters and communities. We pay our respect to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures and to Elders past and present. We respectfully advise that this site includes works by, images of, names of, voices of and references to deceased people.

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