Please join us from 6–7.30pm for a panel discussion focusing on the lineages of queer histories on the present. Featuring the research and practices of three speakers, Angela Hesson, Patrice Sharkey and Elyssia Wilson-Heti, who variously engage with queer subcultures, aesthetics and histories, the panel will consider how these legacies have shaped or reshaped the diverse range of LGBTQI+ representation today.
The panel discussion is in association with ACCA’s current exhibition Future Remains: The 2024 Macfarlane Commissions, which presents seven commissions by artists from across Australia who variously reclaim, restage and reframe specific material, cultural or ideological inheritances in an effort not only to better understand the past and present but to generate new possibilities for the future.
About the panellists:
Dr Angela Hesson is a writer, curator, and art historian living on Wurundjeri land. She has worked as a curator of Australian art at the National Gallery of Victoria, lecturer in art history and literature at the University of Melbourne, and curatorial research fellow with the ARC Centre of Excellence for the History of Emotions. She writes about art, emotions, sexualities, nature and magic.
Patrice Sharkey is Head of Exhibitions and Programs at TarraWarra Museum of Art. Prior to this, she was Artistic Director of Adelaide Contemporary Experimental (2019–23), Director of West Space (2015–8) and Assistant Curator at Monash University Museum of Art (2011–4). Her recent curatorial projects include Justine Youssef: Somewhat Eternal, co-curated with Stella Rosa McDonald and Tulleah Pearce and presented by Adelaide Contemporary Experimental, Institute of Modern Art, Brisbane, and UTS Gallery & Art Collection, Sydney; Peter Waples-Crowe: Pride, co-curated with Dominic Guerrera for Tarnanthi: Festival of Contemporary Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art; and A River That Flows Both Ways: Selected Works from the 23rd Biennale of Sydney: Rīvus as part of the 2023 Adelaide Festival.
Elyssia Wilson-Heti is an interdisciplinary artist, activist, and community leader of mixed Niuean and European heritage. As a founding member of the FAFSWAG Arts Collective, Wilson-Heti has been instrumental in the collective’s growth and recognition. FAFSWAG, which received an arts laureate in 2020, is renowned for its groundbreaking work at the intersection of art and activism, particularly within queer and indigenous communities.
For the past decade, Wilson-Heti has served as a key producer for FAFSWAG, overseeing a diverse range of projects including live performances, public programming, community events, panels, podcasts, and activations. Her collaborative approach and dedication to inclusivity have been central to creating spaces that amplify marginalized voices and foster community engagement.
Wilson-Heti’s interdisciplinary practice spans visual art, performance, and digital media, challenging traditional narratives and exploring themes of identity, belonging, and resistance. Her work not only reflects her rich cultural heritage but also serves as a powerful platform for advocacy and empowerment.
Beyond her artistic contributions, Wilson-Heti is a committed activist and community leader. Her efforts focus on addressing social inequalities and championing the rights of queer and indigenous people. Through her visionary work, Elyssia Wilson-Heti continues to inspire change and demonstrate the transformative power of art and cultural advocacy.
