The Art of Biography

Louise Martin-Chew has worked as a freelance writer, specialising in the visual arts and design, since 1992. Prior to that she worked in Sydney in exhibitions and publications management (Art Exhibitions Australia 1985-89), becoming Editorial Manager of Art & Australia quarterly journal 1990-92.

Since 1992 she has contributed regularly to national art magazines, newspapers and catalogues and was Brisbane art critic for The Australian newspaper 1997-2009. Most recently she has contributed to and authored books on Australian artists Judy Watson (2008), Fiona Foley (2009 and 2021), Stephen Hart (2011) and Robert Brownhall (2012), and Linde Ivimey (UQ Art Museum, 2012). She was awarded her doctorate in 2019 from the University of Queensland (Creative Writing) for a biography of Indigenous artist Fiona Foley which is now published as Fiona Foley Provocateur: An Art Life (QUT Art Museum, 2021).

Cheryl Leavy is an award-winning writer of non-fiction, poetry, and children's literature. Her children’s book, Yanga – Mother, published by UQP in 2024, was recently shortlisted for an Australian Book Industry Award. Cheryl has also been awarded the Oodgeroo Noonuccal Prize for Indigenous Poetry, a Varuna Residency, a Queensland Writers Fellowship and a Queensland Museum Fellowship. Her poetry has been published by Cordite, Griffith Review and UQP, and has been commissioned by art museums here and internationally. Cheryl has served on many boards including the Queensland Art Gallery, Brisbane Writers Festival and the Institute of Modern Art. Cheryl is passionate about using the power of language and culture to advance human rights, with a focus on climate and land justice.