Dr. Virginia Keft is a Murriwarri Woman; artist, performer, and researcher. Virginia lives and works on Dharawal and Gadigal Country. She has firm links to her community and whenever possible she spends time on Country connecting with family, sharing knowledge and forging bonds through culture.
Her practice includes painting, drawing, weaving, sculpture and sound art. Her work is a powerful statement on the resilience of tradition, the persistence of cultural memory, and the strength of Aboriginal identity. Her work celebrates connections to place, community, and language. Weaving features in her practice, physically and symbolically. Language is woven into the works - in letter, sound, symbol, line and pattern, reflecting its scattered but persisting presence. In her current role as 'Arts and Dementia Coordinator for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander programs’ at the Museum of Contemporary Art, Virginia brings her passion for making contemporary visual culture accessible to broad audiences together with her commitment to help drive change through innovative and culturally safe arts and culture programs for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities. Virginia is a well-respected researcher in her field and has published and presented papers on Arts and Culture, Dance performance, and Indigenous Arts and Wellbeing. She holds a Doctorate (PhD - Medalist) from the University of Wollongong, along with a Bachelor of Creative Arts (BCA - Distinction), and a Bachelor of Arts (BA - Class 1 Honours). Virginia is the Founding Director, Arts Manager and Producer of the award winning dance company, Cinnamon Twist Belly Dance. She is also the creator and producer of ‘Wollongong Belly Dance Festival’ (2011, 2013, 2015, 2017); a biennial international showcase of Oriental dance. |