Dr Donna Leslie joins Department of Theory of Art & Design

Copyright © Donna Leslie, Inside, 2008.

We are pleased to announce the arrival of a new staff member, Dr Donna Leslie, who has joined the Department of Theory of Art & Design as an ARC Postdoctoral Research Fellow. Donna is an art historian whose writing is inspired by Australian indigenous and contemporary art. She is also trained in art curatorship and teaching.

Donna's research interests are reflected in her ARC funded projects to write two books: Sacred Ground: New Dimensions in Australian Art, and Spiritual Journeying and Cross-culturalism: The Art of Tim Johnson. Both explore Australian contemporary art and its relationship to the sacred and cross-cultural. Donna has a book currently in press with Macmillan Art Publishing entitled, Aboriginal Art: Creativity and Assimilation (2008), which is based on her doctoral research.

Donna is also a painter who has worked on exhibitions and creative projects for over twenty-five years. These have included commissions, artist residencies, designs, cartoons, and children's book illustration.