Regional Spotlight Artist Profile | Darren Harrold
Published on 06 October 2026
The Regional Spotlight initiative is an opportunity for Wide-Bay Burnett artists at any stage in their career, working in any visual art medium, to receive mentorship and share their work at the gallery. Developed from an expressions of interest process, the 2026 exhibition brings a multifaceted survey of local artists sharing their personal connection to space, landscape, environment, home and time through mediums of painting, photography, printmaking, sculpture and mixed media work.
Utilising the striking nature of black and white photography, Darren instils a subtle eerie feeling into his work, transforming mundane urban scenes into uncannily captivating moments.
How long have you been making artwork?
Like I’d assume for just about everyone I created art in my childhood, and then again like many people, I stopped at a certain point as the naive wonder of childhood faded.
I was lucky enough to pick art up again with sketching in my early-mid teens and then being gifted a secondhand DSLR a few years after that. The latter of which starting the ongoing fixation with photography which led to me typing, and then you reading, this profile.
What are your favourite mediums to work with and why?
That’s easy; Photography. In my opinion, it’s the perfect intersection of mechanical and chemical engineering, artistic creativity, and pure circumstantial luck all coming together to capture a single moment.
Who/what inspires or influences you?
For artists, I’m inspired by the works of Trent Parke and Todd Hido particularly. I find the often dark and haunting nature of their work captivating, and is something I attempt to adapt within my own.
Beyond urban photographers, I also admire Don Mcullin. Despite being a conflict photographer, I am fascinated by the ways in which he captures people in their element. Photographing people is something that I find incredibly intimidating, however, and have yet to properly explore how this might fit within my own practice.
Outside of photography entirely, I’ve found that the genres of horror, cyberpunk, and sci-fi, as well as my experiences with metal, punk, and goth subcultures, heavily influence how I explore art.
Has your practice and subject matter changed over time? If so, how?
Sort of. When I first got into photography, I was very focused on capturing nature and animals, but at that point in time I didn’t consider what I did art or intentionally practice it as such. Once I developed my own understanding of photography as an art I found that my focus settled quite firmly on exploring personal experiences within urban scenes.
If I can beat the intimidation though, I would like to explore self and candid portraiture in the future, so who knows just how firmly settled my focus is.
What do you like most about living in the region?
Aside from the sheer amount of history that is literally built into the region, I adore the abundance of quiet moments and spaces. The beaches, the sprawling hilltop views, or even moments in the CBD if you’re lucky.
It feels like there are so many more spaces and opportunities to slow down and connect with my environment when compared to the suburbs that I grew up in South of Brisbane.
What advice would you give your younger self?
For better or worse, none. Any shortfallings or missed opportunities that I might have advice for led to lessons, perspectives, or moments of exploration that I wouldn’t have otherwise had. I wouldn’t change that.
Is there anything else you would like to add?
If you’re reading this and think art is cool and awesome but trying it is scary, trust me, it’s worth taking the dive. Pick a genre or three and give it a go.
What is the most interesting feedback you have had about your work?
I don’t get that much critical feedback unfortunately. I mostly find photographers who practice nature focused genres or practice commercially, which despite often using the same hardware apply different skillsets entirely, and struggle to find other photographers that explore the field in the same creative avenue as I do and have deeply impactful feedback.
Photo: Darren Harrold, supplied by the artist.