TextaQueen

welcomes guests for the second Riff Raff Reading Room of 2026. We’ll be open by appointment Sat 4 April & Sun 5 April and every first full weekend of the month.

Make a free booking to browse the BIPOC library in a COVID-safer space - alone or with people you bring - for up to 2 hours at https://cal.com/textaqueen/riff-raff. If you practice pandemic precautions in your daily life you can request to be introduced to the space personally. There is also the option to visit without human interaction.

Riff Raff Reading Room shares TheySwarm’s library of titles by First Nations, Black, and people of colour (especially q***r and trans) authors and artists with a focus on disability justice, Indigenous and other radical resistance, speculative fiction, memoir, self publishing, picture books and poetry.

Thanks again to everyone who’s donated to the ACF fundraiser. More info via links in bio. Sign up to newsletter to learn about future events including hybrid writing and read-a-loud sessions.

Access: N95 Masks required and provided. Air-purifiers and UV. Step-free but bathroom not *yet* wheelchair accessible. Low-stimulation, quiet-ish space with natural light + dimmable lighting. Lounge chairs, low sofa, armless ergonomic chairs, floor mat. Fragrance-free. More access info at link in bio

welcomed guests for Riff Raff Reading Room over the weekend. Open next on Sat 4 April & Sun 5 April, and then the first full weekend of every month.

Make a free booking to browse the BIPOC library in a COVID-safer space - alone or with people you bring - for up to 2 hours at https://cal.com/textaqueen/riff-raff

Riff Raff Reading Room shares TheySwarm’s library of titles by First Nations, Black, and people of colour (especially q***r and trans) authors and artists with a focus on disability justice, Indigenous and other radical resistance, speculative fiction, memoir, self publishing, picture books and poetry.

Many immuno-compromised, disabled, and other COVID-realist people continue to live in ongoing isolation in a world where most people and places have abandoned pandemic precautions. Happy that I'm able to offer my studio at TheySwarm in Collingwood - Narrm, as a sensory-friendly space with few social expectations, for us to connect with a rad collection of literature and each other.

Thanks again to everyone who’s donated to the ACF fundraiser. More info via links in bio. Sign up to newsletter to learn about future events including hybrid writing and read-a-loud sessions.

Access: N95 Masks required and provided. Air-purifiers and UV. Step-free but bathroom not *yet* wheelchair accessible. Low-stimulation, quiet-ish space with natural light + dimmable lighting. Lounge chairs, low sofa, armless ergonomic chairs, floor mat. Fragrance-free. More access info at link in bio. ⁠

ID: photo of chalkboard in front of colourful bookshelf. Chalk on board reads "RIFF RAFF READING ROOM - A COVID-safer space - TheySwarm's BIPOC Library open-by-appointment - SAT 7 & SUN 8 MARCH - 11am-3pm

Happening now! Riff Raff open day welcomes you to visit TheySwarm Library between 12pm-3pm at 152 Johnston St, Collingwood.

RSVP: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/theyswarms-riff-raff-open-day-tickets-1812169861839

ID: 3 photos of TheySwarm studio set up for Riff Raff open day with chairs, floor cushion and a whiteboard.

This Thursday 23 October, TextaQueen invites you to TheySwarm’s Riff Raff Open Day for a taste of ‘Riff Raff Reading Room’ - an upcoming event series of covid-cautious reading, writing and riffing sessions with TheySwarm’s rad BIPOC library hosted by TQ and diverse and disabled creatives. Free & hybrid event in tandem with our ACF fundraiser for future reading rooms (links in bio)

Where:
TheySwarm (and online)
152 Johnston Street Collingwood, Narrm

When:
Thursday 23 October
on Giving Day To the Arts
RSVP to drop in anytime between
12-3pm in-person
1-3pm online

What:
Open Day introduces Riff Raff with three sessions - quiet-ish reading, read-a-loud reading and discussion time with anyone interesting in hosting or participating in future reading rooms

To RSVP, support our ACF fundraiser or for more info visit links in bio or head to https://textaqueen.com/projects/theyswarm/

Access Info (more at RSVP link):
N95s required (also provided). 3 purifiers in main space, 1 in bathroom. Armchairs, ergonomic and dining chairs, mats in a spacious circle. Step-free but bathroom not yet accessible for power chairs, limited access for manual chairs (DM with yr email for details).

, hosted by , is a studio, artist residency and covid-cautious event space for diverse and disabled artists.

ID 1: chalkboard with chalk text “RIFF RAFF / OPEN DAY / covid cautious reading / with TheySwarm’s / rad BIPOC library / THU 23 OCT 12-3
ID 2: chalkboard with chalk text “TheySwarm / 152 Johnston Street / Collingwood, Narrm / 12 -3 / (1-3 online) / RSVP textaqueen.com/projects/theyswarm”

The Circus Of The Oppressed is on at Warrnambool Art Gallery until 11 May 2025

Satirically employing the style of vintage circus posters in works on paper and a giant interactive jigsaw puzzle, TextaQueen examines the tokenisation and exploitation of marginalised artists in institutional contexts. Initially developed while studying the political, circus, and magic posters and books in the State Library of Victoria’s archive during a Creative Fellowship, this is an evolving, accumulative series in response to oppressive dynamics in Arts institutions and beyond.

Wheelchair accessible. Masks available, not required. Open Monday-Friday 10am-5pm Saturday-Sunday 10am-3pm. Public Holiday hours and more info thewag.com.au.

24 Liebig Street, Warrnambool

—
Photo by Leila Baptist

ID: Photo of gallery space with mural of yellow starred and trimmed red curtain on a deep blue wall with three brightly coloured marker framed works on paper imitating old circus posters and a similarly designed giant jigsaw puzzle on wooden floor in foreground. Texta stands in colour choc’d pants and black bedazzled halter top wearing turquoise mask while holding up a tri colour chihuahua.

repost• it has been over a decade since this collaboration with was released, and I turn to it on this day.

the art is by Texta Queen, and I wrote the poem:

reminders

healing is not linear
grief has no deadline
your ancestors have carried you through anxiety and worry
your body remembers
and it is possible to feel that way again

——‐

part of is sad and scared, and part of me is secure in my relations. now is the time that we need each other more than ever.

I am organizing a meeting with my neighbors. do something too, no matter how small.

ID: TQ’s drawing of a chamomile flower based on a botanical drawing with above poem “Reminders” by Fabian Romero, each segment of poem assigned to a different element of the plant

I’m having a sale amongst the bin fire of the world. 20% off anything in my shop - Bollywouldn’t, Learn Your ACABs, giclee prints etc with code ‘handshake’ in honour of repetitive strain injury. Send a receipt supporting or other mutual aid (I’ll post suggestions in stories) and I’ll include a lucky dip selection of my vintage merch no longer available online, equivalent of the donation (though priceless, really).

Like most everyone with whom I choose to connect, the bin fire is inflaming my chronic conditions - in need of more care and rest, and to work less than seems possible, especially when compelled to creatively and otherwise respond to the dire horrors.

If you like my work and are able to, please support directly by buying some of my hot merch, and counter the unprofitable nature of being a disabled artist with a full time unpaid job of caring for own chronically pained body while trying to make creative work that challenges power where the $ lie.

Sale is on through October. Please expect arrival on crip time - i’ll have help to post by the end of the month. Your merch will not be sat on by pets prior to sending.



IDs in comments

I’m giving a Bollywouldn’t artist talk tomorrow, Friday 23 August, University of Melbourne as part of the South Asia Forum (SAF) seminar series on “Queer(ing) South Asia in” so-called “Australia”.

“Bollywouldn’t is a balm to the displacement of diaspora.  

Through portraiture, photography, mural painting, and projection, TextaQueen’s Bollywouldn’t presents decolonial narratives and the reclamation of power and space by South Asian diaspora.” 

The free talk will take place on Friday, 23 August at 5 pm AEST in-person at School of Geography, University of Melbourne, 221 Bouverie Street (Lecture Theatre 2), Carlton, Wurundjeri country, and online via Zoom. Registration link in my stories.

I decided to do this talk at an institution still partnered with arms manufacturers after asking where the $ for the series come from - it’s via union fees - after chatting with the q***r south asian organiser about their global politics, and in appreciation of the rarity of q***r south asian connection. 

Access Info

No Auslan interpretation - the scripted talk will be projected with images. Images verbally described.

Masks required; KN95 masks provided at entry.

Fragrance-free promoted - please avoid wearing strong colognes and perfumes.

The venue is wheelchair accessible and step-free via a ramp in the adjoining 207 Bouverie Street building.

The Lecture Theatres are located in the basement accessible via lift.

ID: digital poster, with info for the talk provided above, featuring daylight photo by Pia Johnson of a late 40s non-binary femme Goan with glowing medium-brown skin sitting up in profile in bed, wearing a coral geometric shirt and surrounded by pastel bedding and rainbow fairy lights.