Artist Talk and Book Launch: r e a

Join us for an artist talk and walkthrough of the exhibition r e a : c l a i m e d 2026, followed by a book launch and in-conversation with r e a, Myles Russell-Cook and Judith Ryan AM.

r e a : c l a i m e d is a focused survey of Gamilaraay, Wailwan and Biripi digital media artist, r e a, highlighting some of their most significant works from a career spanning more than three decades. r e a first exhibited at ACCA as part of the landmark group exhibition Blakness: Blak City Culture! in 1994, curated by Hetti Perkins and Clare Williamson. Now, more than thirty years later, r e a returns to ACCA with a solo exhibition that includes digital media art, sculpture, installation, and video.

r e a : c l a i m e d captures the breadth and impact of r e a’s practice, from examples of their trailblazing work at the forefront of the Indigenous new media movement in the early-1990s to the global premiere of a major new audiovisual commission, tRAKa-tRAKn (burrabeedee) (2025). The culmination of more than five years research, this immersive sound and video installation has been realised with the support of ACCA.

Curated by: Myles Russell-Cook

Launching alongside this exhibition, ACCA is also thrilled to publish the first monograph of r e a's practice. 

r e a : c l a i m e d is a stunning new book that reflects on the artist's expansive career, featuring new scholarship and essays from notable contributors, including Sophie Gerhard, Dr. Shelley McSpedden, Sophie Prince, Professor Lynette Russell AM, and Judith Ryan AM.

Editor: Myles Russell-Cook

Coordinating Editor & Copyeditor: Sophie Prince

Copyeditor: Meredith Turnbull

About the artist:
For over thirty years, r e a – of the Gamilaraay, Wailwan and Biripi peoples – has been a leading figure in Indigenous new media art in Australia and internationally. An artist, curator, activist and educator, r e a’s work spans photography, video, digital media, film and installation, exploring Indigenous identity, representation and post-colonial experience. 

r e a is the artist’s full name. Due to academic conventions, some texts appear under r e a Saunders or Dr Regina M. Saunders (Morris). The name r e a noir is also used – referencing the colour black and a playful nod to Renoir.

Image: r e a : c l a i m e d edited by Myles Russell-Cook.