Megan Munro
Hi there, I am a queer and disabled artist and activist living on the stolen lands of the Ngunnawal and Ngambri people, sometimes known as Canberra in so-called Australia.
I crochet and make digital drawings. Occasionally I make things out of other mediums. I sometimes perform, drag, burlesque, performance art. I usually like to combine them. Sometimes I like to make elaborate costumes to go with my acts. I also produce The Queer Variety Show, which features Queer/LGBTIQA+ and Disabled (includes neurodivergent, chronic illness, mental illness) people with the occasional ally.
I also work for the Easy Read Toolbox . A small disability led organisation, that is all about easy read and accessibility.
I live with my partner and my cat, and a whole lot of art supplies.
The longer version
Megan Munro graduated from the Canberra School of art in 1996 with a Bachelor of Arts (Vis), with Honors. They majored in textiles with honors 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 Out of the Shadows held at ANCA Gallery, Dickson in 2023. The exhibition was made up of small, crocheted self portraits, a series of digital drawings and a video work. Overall it was a reflection of Megan's life living with chronic illnesses. The brightly coloured works focussed on 'glimmers' or small moments of joy.
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.
In 2004 Megan had a life changing experience in that they ‘came out’ as queer. This changed the direction of Megan’s work, which became more performance focussed. In doing this they became known for their spectacular, original costumes. They have performed in many venues across Canberra, Melbourne and Sydney. In 2024 they won the title of 'Entertainer of the Year in Mx Burlesque ACT.
After approximately 10 years of ill-health, Megan was diagnosed at the beginning of 2018 with Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, ME/CFS and later Fibromyalgia and Autism. Since being diagnosed with ME/CFS, Megan has been working full time on their varied art practise.
They were a finalist in the National Disability Leadership Awards, in the arts category in 2019.
In 2020 to 2022 they produced a variety show for LGBTIQA+ and disabled people with support from the ACT Government, which they won the Chief Minister’s Inclusion Award for excellence in Making Inclusion Happen.
In 2024 Megan started producing the Queer Variety Show, which is held bi monthly at Smith's
Alternative. In doing this they are also teaching two other people how to produce a show, and there are a team of volunteers that help run the show. It is more than an event it is community capacity building.