Projects per year
Personal profile
Biography
Dr Kirsten Lyttle is the Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Wominjeka Djeembana Research Lab. Kirsten is a Māori wāhine academic, artist and creative practice-led researcher (Iwi/tribe: Waikato, Waka/Canoe: Tainui, Hapū/Subtribe: Ngāti Tahinga). Her primary research interests are; Indigenous-centred methodologies and knowledge systems, Indigenous customary art practices and their application to technologies such as photography and video.
She has over 11 years of teaching experience and has lectured and taught photography, art history and visual art, at a range of universities including; Master of Photography - RMIT University, Critical Art and Theory - Victorian College of the Arts and the Melbourne Conservatorium of Music at The University of Melbourne, Deakin University and Photography Studies College.
Kirsten has exhibited widely in Australia and internationally. Recent highlights include Immigration Museum/Museums Victoria (2022 & 2018/2019), Gertrude Street Projection Festival (2021), Ballarat International Foto Biennale (2019), Counihan Gallery in Brunswick (2019), Horsham Regional Art Gallery (2019), Monash Gallery of Art (2018 & 2016), Gertrude Contemporary, Preston (2018), Centre for Contemporary Photography (2018).
Research interests
- Art Theory and Criticsm
- Visual Arts and Crafts
- Communication and Media Studies
- Indigenous Knowledge Systems
Supervision interests
Indigenous-centred methodologies and knowledge systems, Indigenous customary art practices and their application to technologies such as photography and video.
Expertise related to UN Sustainable Development Goals
In 2015, UN member states agreed to 17 global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure prosperity for all. This person’s work contributes towards the following SDG(s):
Education/Academic qualification
Creative Arts, PhD (Research), Digital Mana: Transforming the Photograph into a Site for Making Māori Customary Art, Ph.D. thesis, School of Communication and Creative Arts, Deakin University. https://dro.deakin.edu.au/view/DU:30143507, Deakin University
1 Mar 2015 → 12 Nov 2019
Award Date: 18 May 2020
Fine Arts (Photography), Master of Fine Arts with Distinction
2012 → 2013
Award Date: 20 Nov 2013
Research area keywords
- Visual Arts
- Fine Arts
- Photography
- Indigenous knowledges
- Diaspora
- Decolonisation
- Art History
Collaborations and top research areas from the last five years
Projects
- 2 Finished
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Te raranga i te awa (weaving the river)
Lyttle, K. (Primary Chief Investigator (PCI))
28/11/24 → 8/06/25
Project: Research
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Develop new visual art/craft creative content
Lyttle, K. (Primary Chief Investigator (PCI))
1/01/23 → 1/07/23
Project: Research
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Ancestors, Not Objects
Garner Lyttle, K., 2025, Alternative Economies of Heritage: Sustainable, Anti-Colonial and Creative Approaches to Cultural Inheritance. Thwaites, D., Turner, B. & Ireland, T. (eds.). Oxon UK: Routledge, p. 17-34 18 p.Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter (Book) › Research › peer-review
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Black Sand Kete
Garner Lyttle, K. (Artist), 2024Research output: Non-textual form › Commissioned or Visual Artwork › Research
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Kete whiri awa / river braided basket
Lyttle, K. (Artist), 2024Research output: Non-textual form › Commissioned or Visual Artwork › Research
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Selected works in 'The light draws along...'
Garner Lyttle, K. (Artist), 2024Research output: Non-textual form › Commissioned or Visual Artwork › Other
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Kahu Whakaahua
Lyttle, K. (Artist), 2023Research output: Non-textual form › Commissioned or Visual Artwork › Research
Prizes
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2016 William and Winifred Bowness Photography Prize - Finalist: 'Joely: Māori meets the Nii-tsi-ta-pii-ksi (2016) from the series Te Whare Pora (the House of Weaving)'
Lyttle, K. (Recipient), 2016
Prize: Prize (including medals and awards)
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2018 William and Winifred Bowness Photography Prize - Finalist: 'Gundulu/Emu kākahu huruhuru 2018'
Lyttle, K. (Recipient), 2018
Prize: Prize (including medals and awards)
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2019 Martin Kantor Portrait Prize - Finalist: 'Sana Balai'
Lyttle, K. (Recipient), 2019
Prize: Prize (including medals and awards)
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2024 William & Winifred Bowness Photography Prize - Honourable Mention: 'Te raranga i te awa / weaving the river'
Lyttle, K. (Recipient), 2024
Prize: Prize (including medals and awards)
Activities
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PHOTOREAL 2024: Uncomfortable truths - Small acts of resistance
Lyttle, K. (Host)
27 Oct 2024Activity: Community Talks, Presentations, Exhibitions and Events › Public event
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TarraWarra Biennial 2023 Artist Talks: Kirsten Lyttle and Jenna Lee
Lyttle, K. (Contributor) & Lee, J. (Contributor)
20 May 2023Activity: Community Talks, Presentations, Exhibitions and Events › Public lecture/debate/seminar
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National Gallery of Victoria - Acquisition: 'Kahu Whakaahua'
Lyttle, K. (Contributor)
2023 → …Activity: Community Talks, Presentations, Exhibitions and Events › Acquisition
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Conversation: Slippery Images
Finch, M. (Host), Koenning, K. (Contributor), Williams, R. (Contributor) & Lyttle, K. (Contributor)
26 Mar 2023Activity: Community Talks, Presentations, Exhibitions and Events › Public lecture/debate/seminar
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AAANZ Annual Conference
Clancy, P. (Speaker), Romanis, J. (Speaker), Neath, J. (Speaker), Lyttle, K. (Speaker) & Miles, M. (Speaker)
2 Dec 2022Activity: Participating in or organising an event types › Contribution to conference
Press/Media
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PHOTO REVIEW: 'Bowness Photography Prize winner announced'
13/09/24
1 item of Media coverage
Press/Media: Other
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MEMO REVIEW: 'TarraWarra Biennial 2023: ua usiusifaʻavaʻasavili'
10/06/23
1 item of Media coverage
Press/Media: Article/Feature
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ABC ARTS: 'Dr Kirsten Lyttle on weaving photographs and her Māori heritage into her arts practice'
20/05/23
1 item of Media coverage
Press/Media: Profile/Interview