Short bio(s)

Small (Approx 50 words)

Jackie is a multi-award-winning Australian artist. She has an abiding interest in culture that connects her work across forms and genres, from writing and research to performance, arts administration, film work and visual design. She holds a PhD in History and Political Science from The University of Queensland.

Medium (Approx 100 words)

Jackie Ryan holds a PhD in history and political science from The University of Queensland. Her book, We’ll Show the World: Expo 88 (UQP 2018), won two Queensland Literary Awards and was shortlisted for The Courier-Mail People’s Choice Queensland Book of the Year Award. Her graphic novel series, Burger Force, has won an Aurealis Award and a Bronze Ledger Award and has been shortlisted for the Russell Prize for Humour Writing. Jackie's visual art is held in public and private collections. Her writing collective, the Fanciful Fiction Auxiliary (FFA), has staged sold out shows. Jackie has been the recipient of a Queensland Writing Fellowship and a Lord Mayor’s Writers Residency.

Too Much (Approx 200 words)

Jackie is a multi-award-winning Australian artist. She has an abiding interest in culture that connects her work across forms and genres, from writing and research to performance, arts administration, film work and visual design. She holds a PhD in History and Political Science from The University of Queensland, where she was also an Honorary Research Fellow.

Her book, We’ll Show the World: Expo 88 (UQP 2018), won two Queensland Literary Awards—the Queensland Premier’s Award for a Work of State Significance and the History Book Award—and was also shortlisted for The Courier-Mail People’s Choice Queensland Book of the Year Award. Her graphic novel series, Burger Force, has won an Aurealis Award and a Bronze Ledger Award and has been shortlisted for the Russell Prize for Humour Writing. Her visual art has been the subject of solo and group exhibitions and is held in public and private collections. Her writing collective, the Fanciful Fiction Auxiliary (FFA), has sold out performance venues.

The websites for Burger Force and the FFA have been preserved by the National Archives of Australia as sites of cultural significance. Jackie has received funding from Australia Council, Arts Queensland and Copyright Agency Limited and has had arts commissions from Brisbane City Council. She has been the recipient of a Queensland Writing Fellowship and a Lord Mayor’s Writers Residency.

Jackie’s arts administration experience traverses State Library of Queensland, Queensland Writers Centre, Avid Reader bookshop and Brisbane Writers Festival.

Publications

BOOKS

Non Fiction Writing

  • 'We'll Show the World: Expo 88'. St Lucia: University of Queensland Press, 2018.

Fiction Writing & Design

  • 'Burger Force Vol 5'. Brisbane: Independent, 2020
  • 'Burger Force Vol 4'. Brisbane: Independent, 2019
  • 'Burger Force Vol 3. Brisbane: Independent, 2018
  • 'Burger Force Vol 2'. Brisbane: Independent, 2017
  • 'Burger Force Vol 1'. Brisbane: Independent, 2016.

PERIODICALS, BLOGS, CHAPBOOKS & MISCELLANY

Non Fiction Writing

  • Didactic text for State Library of Queensland exhibition 'Queensland to a T'; 2022
  • ‘From PhD to Book: an Expo-lation’. In Rowney, Katie (Ed.) Small Change, Brisbane, University of Queensland, 2018
  • ‘World Expo 88: You’re the Voice Er … I’m One Voice’. In Phillips, Sharon (Ed.) Writing Queensland 259, Brisbane, Queensland Writers Centre, 2017
  • ‘Around the World in 80 Days’. History Australia 10.1, Sydney, Australian Historical Association, Macquarie University, 2013
  • Didactic text written for Museum of Brisbane's 'Light Fantastic' exhibition on World Expo 88; 2013
  • ‘Comic Book Production in the Digital Age’. In Groth, Simon (Ed.) 'Hand Made High Tech', Brisbane, if:book, 2011.

Fiction Writing General

  • ‘It’s the End of the World and This Time We Really Mean It’. Dash Literary Journal, Special Edition, California State University, 2021
  • ‘Cats: Sex Animals'. (Written in character as Valkyrie Cul-de-Sac for the Fanciful Fiction Auxiliary (FFA)), 2019.
  • ‘A Good Heart is Hard to Fund'. (As Valkyrie Cul-de-Sac for the FFA), 2016
  • ‘Space Virgin'. Written in character as Valkyrie Cul-de-Sac for The Fanciful Fiction Auxiliary, 2016
  • ‘John Farnham I'll be your Substratum'. (As Valkyrie Cul-de-Sac for the FFA), 2015
  • ‘Duet for One'. (As Valkyrie Cul-de-Sac for the FFA), 2015.
  • ‘Seaduced'. (As Valkyrie Cul-de-Sac for the FFA), 2014.
  • ‘A Trucker Too Far'. (As Valkyrie Cul-de-Sac for the FFA), 2014.
  • ‘The Long and Sensual Arm of the Law'. (As Valkyrie Cul-de-Sac for the FFA), 2014.
  • ‘The Engorged Landlord'. (As Valkyrie Cul-de-Sac for the FFA), 2014.

Design

  • 'Brisbane Pride Drive' and 'Brisbane Pride Ride'. Cover and back cover art in Frost, Zenobia (Ed.), 'Chewing on a Ruby Passport', Cordite Poetry Review, 2021.
  • 'Isolation Vacation' photographic series in Head, Jerath and O'Brien, Jonathan (Eds.), 'A()Zine, Issue Five', Pseudonaja, Brisbane, 2020.
  • 'Burger Force excerpt' In Harkin, Natalie (Ed.), 'Cordite 89: Domestic.', 2019.
  • ‘Greater Than… You Think’. Visual essay in Sutherland, Renee Vaughn (Ed.) Greater Than 11% Issue 1, London, Greater Than 11%, 2019.
  • ‘High Fashion/ Low Rent’. Visual essay in Li, Bella (Ed.) 'Thrift', Melbourne, Slow Canoe Press, 2018.
  • California Sweet. Cover and internal images for Kent MacCarter's poetry collection. Five Islands Press, University of Melbourne, 2018.

Fiction Writing & Design

  • 'Burger Force Issue 21'. Brisbane: Independent, 2021.
  • 'Burger Force Issue 20'. Brisbane: Independent, 2016.
  • 'Burger Force Issue 19'. Brisbane: Independent, 2015.
  • 'Burger Force Issue 18'. Brisbane: Independent, 2014.
  • 'Burger Force Issue 17'. Brisbane: Independent, 2014.
  • 'Burger Force Issue 16'. Brisbane: Independent, 2014.
  • 'Burger Force Issue 15'. Brisbane: Independent, 2014.
  • 'Burger Force Issue 14'. Brisbane: Independent, 2013.
  • 'Burger Force Issue 13'. Brisbane: Independent, 2013.
  • 'Burger Force Issue 12'. Brisbane: Independent, 2012.
  • 'Burger Force Issue 11'. Brisbane: Independent, 2012.
  • 'Burger Force Issue 10'. Brisbane: Independent, 2011.
  • 'Burger Force Issue 9'. Brisbane: Independent, 2011.
  • 'Burger Force Issue 8'. Brisbane: Independent, 2011.
  • 'Burger Force Issue 7'. Brisbane: Independent, 2011.
  • 'Burger Force Issue 6'. Brisbane: Independent, 2011.
  • 'Burger Force Issue 5'. Brisbane: Independent, 2010.
  • 'Burger Force Issue 4'. Brisbane: Independent, 2010.
  • 'Burger Force Issue 3'. Brisbane: Independent, 2010.
  • 'Burger Force Issue 2'. Brisbane: Independent, 2010.
  • 'Burger Force Issue 1'. Brisbane: Independent, 2010.
Visual Art & Exhibitions

Solo Exhibitions

  • 2016 Brisbane Powerhouse (the art of 'Burger Force')
  • 2016 Brisbane Powerhouse (the art of the Fanciful Fiction Auxiliary)
  • 2011 Shooting Gallery
  • 2010 Redland Art Gallery ('Burger Force' art exhibition)

Group Exhibitions

  • 2021 Circle Work Gallery (Chrysalis 'Your Inner Circles' commission and public past-up gallery) 
  • 2020-21  Onspace Gallery (Depart exhibition featuring the Isolation Vacation photographic series)
  • 2019 Trace Biennial Exhibition & Art Auction
  • 2018 Onespace Afterimage exhibition
  • 2017 Onespace Afterimage exhibition

Public Artworks

  • 2015 Vibrant Laneways Art Program, Outdoor Gallery, Brisbane City Council
  • 2016 Vibrant Laneways Art Program, Outdoor Gallery, Brisbane City Council

Collections

  • ABC Art Works Acquisition
  • Queensland Children's Hospital
  • Private Collections

Miscellaneous

  • 2020 band photo shoot for The Stress of Leisure
  • 2017 Queensland Theatre and Belloo Creative commission (photographic documentation of the play Motherland)
  • 2012 Design of the original logo for the Queensland Literary Awards
  • 2012 Design of a limited-edition poster for Stan Lee's Comikaze Expo (Los Angeles)
Films & Music Videos

DOCUMENTARY

2015: 'We'll Show the World: Expo 88'. 60 minutes. Edited from historic footage and contemporary 'memory box' contributions by visitors to the Museum of Brisbane during the Expo exhibition. Made as part of a PhD. Screened at Schonell Theatre, University of Queensland.

 

SHORT FILM

2001: 'The Activist' featuring Paul Denny. (Written, produced, directed and edited.) 

 

SHORT NON FICTION

2008: 'The Adventures of Expo Oz'. Edited from archival footage for Queensland Museum

2008: 'We'll Show the World'. Edited from archival footage for the SouthBank Corporation 

 

MUSIC VIDEO

2016: 'Aim High Get High' for Stress of Leisure. (Edited from stock footage.) 

2003: 'Unisex' for b(if)tek. (Produced, directed and edited)

2007: 'One Man Band' for Iron On. Produced, directed and edited

2002: 'Any Ladies?' for Artificial. Produced and directed.

2002: 'Macrame' for Artificial. Mini DV. Directed and edited 

2000: 'Who's Your Daddy?' for Full Fathom Five. Produced and directed.

 

Arts Administration

Artistic Director: Brisbane Writers Festival; 2023–present. Curating and delivering Brisbane Writers Festival's annual artistic program of conversations, salons, panels and more.

Head of Programming: Brisbane Writers Festival; 2022. Curating, scheduling and executing the festival in collaboration with the CEO and Cultural Curators.

Events Coordinator: Avid Reader Brisbane, 2022. Involves liaising with authors and publishers to schedule and facilitate a range of literary workshops and launch events.

Programs Manager: Brisbane Writers Festival (replacing former programs manager five weeks out from the festival); 2022. This entailed liaising with artists, publishers, sponsors, venues, the festival bookshop and the BWF team to deliver over 200 events in multiple venues across six days during an ever-changing Covid environment. 

Project Officer (A05:2): Next Library, Public Libraries & Engagement (three month contract). Part of a two-person team responsible for delivering a dynamic one-day ‘unconference’ that explores the future of storytelling. This involves programming a diverse line-up of artists, academics and library professionals and planning a series of activities that will engage and inspire attendees while generating positive outcomes for public libraries and Indigenous Knowledge Centres. Run in conjunction with Aarhus Public Libraries (the founders of Next Library) in Denmark and participating libraries in Oslo and Boston/MIT.  

Project Officer (A05:2): State Library of Queensland, Community Literacy Projects, Early Literacy Programs (Stories for Little Queenslanders); 2020. This involved leading a procurement process for a printer and liaising with 30 external authors, illustrators, project editors, designers, sound engineers and foley artists to edit, design, publish and promote 12 new children’s books from Queensland creatives in hardback, ebook and audio book formats.

Programs Manager: Queensland Writers Centre; 2016-18. Involved developing and delivering a wide range of high-quality programs, services and experiences to support the professional development of Queensland writers, enhance QWC’s engagement with members, audiences and partner organisations, and showcase Queensland writing talent.

Select Appearances / Performances

As a historian and / or author

  • 2022 Redcliffe Library lecture (Expo 88 and the 1980s)
  • 2022 Guest of Brisbane Writers Festival (awards panel)
  • 2020 & 2021 Judge: Common People Dance Eisteddfod 2, Brisbane Festival
  • 2019 Graduation ceremony speaker for The University of Queensland Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences
  • 2019 Lecture for the Royal Historical Society of Queensland (Expo 88)
  • 2019 Guest Speaker at The Brisbane Club (Expo 88 and the 1980s)
  • 2019 Judge: Common People Dance Eisteddfod, Brisbane Festival
  • 2019 Panelist at public symposium 'A Sunshine State? Remembering Queensland's 1980s' held by The University of Queensland's School of Historical and Philosophical Inquiry. This event also included a screening of the documentary 'We'll Show the World: Expo 88'
  • 2019 Heritage talk for Pine Rivers heritage Museum (Expo 88)
  • 2019 Author talk for Brisbane City Council Libraries (Expo 88)
  • 2018 Panellist: Queenslanders in Conversation, State Library of Queensland (on major Queensland events)
  • 2018 Guest of Brisbane Writers Festival (Expo 88)
  • 2018 Yarn at Festival 2018
  • 2013 Guest of Brisbane Writers Festival (Burger Force)
  • 2012 Guest of Stan Lee's Komikaze Expo in Los Angeles
  • 2012 Guest of Brisbane Writers Festival (Burger Force)
  • 2012 Guest of Emerging Writers' Festival Melbourne (Burger Force)

In performance with the Fanciful Fiction Auxiliary 

  • 2022 'Luscious Library Salon' at State Library of Queensland
  • 2020 'Dirty Laundry' at Metro Arts 
  • 2018-19 Woodford Folk Festival
  • 2018 Women of the World Festival and Knockoff at Brisbane Powerhouse for the 2018 Commonwealth Games Arts Showcase
  • 2017 Brisbane Writers Festival
  • 2016 Wonderland Festival at Brisbane Powerhouse
  • 2016 The Planting Festival
  • 2016 Queensland Poetry Festival's 'Couplet' at Brisbane City Council City Square Library
  • 2016 Noted Writers Festival, Canberra
  • 2016 Bad!Slam!No!Biscuit! at the Phoenix, Canberra
  • 2015 Woodford Folk Festival
  • 2015 Opening Night MCs for Queensland Poetry Festival with Tuesday Thatch (AKA Carody Culver) + two performances
  • 2015 Queensland Poetry Riverbend series
  • Bad!Slam!No!Memoir
  • 2014 Woodford Folk Festival
  • 2014 Brisbane Fringe Festival
Awards
  • Shortlisted: 2021 Russell Prize for Humour Writing ('Burger Force Vol. 4')
  • Winner: 2020 Bronze Ledger Award for Excellence in Australian Comics and Graphic Novels ('Burger Force Vol. 4')
  • Winner: 2018 Queensland Literary Awards - Queensland Premier's Award for a Work of State Significance ('We'll Show the World: Expo 88')
  • Winner: 2018 Queensland Literary Awards - University of Southern Queensland History Book Award ('We'll Show the World: Expo 88')
  • Shortlisted: 2018 Queensland Literary Awards The Courier-Mail People's Choice Queensland Book of the Year Award ('We'll Show the World: Expo 88')
  • Shortlisted: 2017 Ledger Awards for Excellence in Australian Comics and Graphic Novels ('Burger Force Vol 1')
  • Shortlisted: 2015 Ledger Awards for Excellence in Australian Comics and Graphic Novels ('Burger Force' issues 15-18)
  • Winner: 2013 Aurealis Award for Best Illustrated Book or Graphic Novel ('Burger Force' issues 11-14)
  • Finalist: 2007 Australian Independent Music Video Awards ('One Man Band' music video for Iron On)
  • Finalist: 2003 Queensland New Filmmakers Awards ('Unisex' music video for b(if)tek)
  • Winner: Best Short Film, 2003 Kill Your TV Awards ('The Activist')
  • Highly Commended: 2000 Warner Roadshow Studios 15th Queensland New Filmmakers Awards ('Who's Your Daddy?' music video for Full Fathom Five)
Other Honours

2021 Arts Queensland funding towards audience development for 'Burger Force' comics

2021 Australia Council funding towards the creation of a new non fiction work

2018 Lord Mayor's Writers in Residence - Brisbane City Council Libraries

2017 Honorary Research Fellow - The University of Queensland

2017 Fanciful Fiction Auxiliary website archived by the National Library of Australia as a site of cultural significance

2012 Australian Postgraduate Awards Scholarship

2012 Copyright Agency Limited grant to attend the Stan Lee Comikaze Expo in Los Angeles

2012 'Burger Force' website archived by the National Library of Australia as a site of cultural significance

2011 Arts Queensland grant to attend Alternative Press Expo in San Francisco

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