ANAT is proud to announce celebrated experimental artist, activist, academic and cultural educator r e a  as the keynote speaker for SPECTRA 2025 :: Reciprocity.

A descendant of the Gamilaraay, Wailwan, and Biripi Peoples (NSW), r e a has dedicated over three decades to pioneering Australian Indigenous new media theory and practice, challenging colonial narratives and advocating for Indigenous and queer identities in the arts. Through their innovative work across photography, digital media, film, video, and installation, they have continually reframed Indigenous identity and intergenerational experiences, making an indelible impact on First Nations arts nationally and internationally. 

r e a ’s practice-led research intersects with critical discourses in intersectionality, colonial history, and cultural resilience. Their work delves into the “colonial archive,” reclaiming Indigenous voices and narratives often silenced by history. In projects such as Native (yugal/song), a 2024 video and motion-sensor installation, and Native (2013), a sound and neon installation, r e a reclaims their personal stories and family’s experiences with the Stolen Generation, addressing historical trauma while creating spaces for cultural memory and healing. 

In the realm of academia, r e a’s leadership in Indigenous studies spans nearly two decades, during which they have developed and delivered curriculum in Indigenous Studies and Art History at renowned institutions, including UNSW and the University of Queensland. Their contributions to educational programming have paved the way for more inclusive representations of First Nations’ voices and knowledges in Australian higher education. Additionally, their work in arts education has empowered countless students to explore and respect Indigenous perspectives on creativity and history.

r e a ’s art also aligns with their activism, as seen in their 2024 Biennale of Sydney commission GARI (language). This powerful series incorporates words from r e a’s ancestral languages — Gamilaraay, Wailwan, and Biripi — juxtaposed with Silence = Death, a historic HIV/AIDS awareness slogan, underscoring the dual resistance faced by queer and First Nations identities. Through language reclamation and powerful visual narratives, r e a advocates for Indigenous sovereignty, reclaiming spaces and histories for First Nations communities and future generations.

r e a has received numerous scholarships and grants throughout their creative and academic career, these include: a Samstag International Visual Arts Scholarship, a New Media Arts Fellowship (Australia Council for the Arts), a Fulbright Scholarship, and the Australia Council Award for Emerging and Experimental Art in 2020.