‘Any history to do with Australia I consider haunting.’
Kyra Mancktelow is a proud Quandamooka artist with strong cultural connections to Eulo and the South Sea Islander community of Vanuatu. Her multidisciplinary practice spans printmaking, sculpture, ceramics, and bronze casting—each medium offering a unique and distinct aesthetic that brings her stories to life.
Kyra’s work is grounded in her rich heritage, using diverse materials and techniques to share cultural knowledge, challenge colonial narratives, and invite audiences into deeper understanding. Her practice is both educational and poetic—layering symbolism, texture, and form to express identity, memory, and resilience in ways that resonate emotionally as well as intellectually.
Drawing on place and lived experience, her art reflects the complexity and beauty of First Nations and South Sea Islander histories. Whether through the tactile intimacy of clay, the permanence of bronze, or the layered nuance of print, Kyra’s work evokes a quiet power—often subtle, always intentional. Through her poetic and powerful visual language, she invites people to engage, reflect, and remember.
Currently undertaking a PhD at Queensland College of Art, Kyra regularly exhibits in both solo and group exhibitions nation wide. Kyra won the 2021 Telstra Emerging Artist Award at The National Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Art Awards, and a Special Commendation at the 2021 Churchie National Emerging Art Prize.