Mikarla Teague
"Do you ask enough questions, or do you settle for what you know?"
Mikarla Teague is an Australian born Artist, Activist and Creative Arts Therapist based in 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 designed and currently delivers 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.
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.
Mikarla is a registered Art Therapist with the Australian, New Zealand and Asian Creative Arts Therapies Association (ANZACATA).
