Megan Munro
Textiles / Mixed Media
Maker Member
Megan Munro graduated from the Canberra School of art in 1996 with a Bachelor of Arts (Vis), with Honours. They majored in textiles with honours work in sculpture. The proceeded to have a prolific emerging career, being involved in many group exhibitions and two solo exhibitions. They later went on to complete a Graduate Diploma in Secondary Teaching at the University of Canberra, training to be an Art/Technology Teacher. This lead them on to a 17-year career teaching in Canberra’s Community sector where they specialised in teaching students in non-mainstream settings. This teaching was enhanced by the completion of a Master of Education, Experiential Learning and Development in 2011.
In 1997 they had their first solo exhibition, Elements, which was held at the ANCA Gallery in Dickson. This exhibition featured sculptural forms made from window screen wires and woven stainless steel and nylon monofilament forms. Their last solo exhibition was Mr Green Teal and Friends, held at Anca Gallery, Dickson in 2012. Mr Green Teal and Friends featured screen printed works on t-shirts, canvas, and paper. The exhibition had a focus on Megan’s alter ego, drag king Mr Green Teal and played with ideas around Mr Green Teal going on world tour. The exhibition had a pop art feel and drew on Andy Warhol’s 15 minutes of fame concept.
Between completing art school and 2004 Megan’s work was featured in many group exhibitions. This included The 17th National Craft Acquisition Award, at Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory in 1997; Surfacing, at Craft ACT, in 2000; and Two Materials, at Craft ACT, Craft and Design Centre in 2007. Megan was a professional member of Craft ACT from 2002 until 2010. They were also on the Management Committee of Megalo Access Arts for several years. Megan was also a finalist in the WOW Awards for wearable art, their work later purchased and held by the WOW Museum in New Zealand.
"I am a queer disabled artist and performer. After many years of bad health I was diagnosed with ME/CFS at the beginning of 2017. Since then I have been learning to live with this illness/disability which has a lot of stigma and myth around it. In 2024 I was diagnosed as autistic.
My work has a focus on my queer and disabled identities, in relation to the home environment and rest. My home is my safe space, I don’t get out very much and my life as it once was, has been dramatically impacted by my illness/disability. I have negotiated what it means to become ‘invisible’ and not be able to participate in life as I knew it. Time is very slow now, but at the same time fast. I have started to capture this in some of my digital drawings where the seasons change around me whilst I am still asleep.
Participation in community, especially as a queer person is very important, however this has been hard for me. Trying to participate whilst being unwell is very difficult. I am trying to deal with my life at the intersections whilst the outside world becomes harder to negotiate for anyone. I dip into it when I can. My work is made using textile methods. I also make digital drawings and perform. I have also been exploring the use of film. My work is nearly always about queer identities and disability and seeks to celebrate these and bring voice and visibility to them.
Animals and the environment have always been important to me. I am currently exploring the ways in which animals and the environment link with being a disabled person. My recent autism diagnosis brought a lot of clarity to my entire life. Being autistic and having a brain that works differently to the majority of others has meant that I have always felt ‘odd’ or ‘different’. Recently I have begun to take an interest in ‘odd’ animals and/or plants that are not commonly seen. Their difference makes them a bit like disabled people. "
Online Resources:
Website: https://www.arachneart.com.au/
Instagram: @meganmunro1968
Facebook: @ArachneArt