Mikarla Teague

ARTIST

"Do you ask enough questions, or do you settle for what you know?"

Mikarla Teague is an Australian born Multi-disciplinary Artist, Activist and Registered Creative Arts Therapist based in Meanjin (Brisbane), Australia.

Mikarla has been a passionate activist since her teens, exhibiting both Nationally and Internationally within human rights showcases, organisations and exhibitions. Her passion lies in creating artworks with a purpose, both to question and confront the realities which have been created for us. Her primary intention is to produce works that dismantle the status quo, and to shine the spotlight and bring awareness to the oppressed, forgotten, and unjustified, in turn empowering and inspiring individuals to stand up and act.

Mikarla believes as an artist it is our responsibility to challenge perspectives - art being the most powerful tool for storytelling, raising consciousness, creating awareness, building empathy, and in turn creating a world of equality and freedom. Equality and freedom are not luxuries to be lightly cast aside.

Her work compassionately challenges the viewer to always question the reality that is presented to us by our governments and authorities, and encourages individuals to not stand idly by and watch, but to act. knowledge, like air, is vital to life. Like air, no one should be denied it. Global change begins with a question.

"There is something so beautiful about raw and honest art. You can teach skills and processes, encourage and nurture, but creativity cannot be taught, it comes from within everyone. Art, no matter what medium, is so pure - an ancient practice, you can see where the creator has left their imprint, leaving their mark symbolic of a story - "you are here". A testimony that art brings people together; it makes one feel less alone. It inspires and empowers, helps us engage and seek, it's connectivity, expansion of living, a sense of "being" and place, it embellishes lives, it's about creation, self expression, it looks beneath the layers to find truth, new ideas, questions, provokes change. There is more to art than just an object, it’s a human story. The Art is in the people" - Mikarla Teague

CREATIVE ARTS THERAPIST

Mikarla is also an experienced Creative Arts Therapist and runs Mikarla Teague Creative Arts Therapy. She offers one on one sessions, and facilitates art therapy groups for individuals and Organisations across Meanjin (Brisbane) and surrounds for populations such as: high-risk disengaged youth; AOD & mental health Recovery programs; homeless and sleeping rough individuals, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander individuals, LGBTIQAP+ individuals; and individuals with complex behaviours - of all ages and backgrounds.

Mikarla designed the highly successful PRIDE Art Therapy Program across Brisbane and South East Queensland, Australia. The program comprises of weekly individual and group Creative Art Therapy programs and sessions for over 70 LGBTIQ+ at risk young people and LGBTIQ+ indigenous young people aged 12 to 24 years across 10 partnering organisations, notably with Headspace, Brisbane Youth Service, Brisbane City Council’s Visible Inc, Police-Citizens Youth Clubs and Jabiru Community Youth & Children’s Service.

Mikarla has a personal connection to Australian and Aotearoa (New Zealand) indiginous populations, and has served as the Lead Art Therapist for the highly celebrated Pathways to Resilience - Empowering Youth to Thrive Program. Empowering Youth to Thrive was a program developed to explore new ways to incorporate neuroscience and growth mindset for disengaged Aboriginal, Torres Strait Islanders and Pacifica youth aged 15-24 years to employment or learning opportunities. They focused on developing meaningful connections on many paradigms by creating opportunities to strengthen connections with country, establish cultural activities, legitimise traditional systems, recognise the need for connectedness, hope, efficacy, safety, calm, dignity, responsibility, truth, empathetic listening and working together.

Internationally, Mikarla has worked for Free To Shine since 2014; an Organisation based in Siem Reap, Cambodia working with young women and girls who are at risk and survivors of human trafficking and sex slavery - Providing art therapy groups for empowerment and education in remote villages and communities.

In 2019 Mikarla was awarded the LGBTI at the annual Queensland Mental Health Achievement Awards for the success of her program The PRIDE Art Therapy Program. The Queensland Mental Health Week Achievement Awards recognise and celebrate the achievements of individuals, groups and organisations working tirelessly to reduce stigma and support and empower those living with mental illness.

In 2022 Mikarla was awarded the prestigious "Ally of the Year" Award at the 2022 Trans Community Awards for her extensive Art Therapy work within the LGBTIQAP+ Community.

Mikarla currently delivers one on one mobile Art Therapy for individuals across Meanjin (Brisbane), Yugambeh (Gold Coast), Kabi Kabi (Sunshine Coast) and surrounds on Tuesday - Friday. Mikarla also works out of Happy Minds Psychology Practice in Ashgrove (www.happyminds.com.au) and has sessions available on Thursdays.

Mikarla is a registered Art Therapist with the Australian, New Zealand and Asian Creative Arts Therapies Association (ANZACATA).