Biography

Dr Kyla McFarlane is a curator, educator, researcher and writer from Aotearoa New Zealand, living and working in Naarm Melbourne. She is currently Academic Engagement Research Fellow in the Museums and Collections Department at the University of Melbourne where she connects academics and students from all faculties with the exhibitions, collections and programs in the University’s Art Museums and conducts research.

Kyla has a Phd in Visual Culture from Monash University, a Master of Arts (First Class Hons) in Art History and a Bachelor of Arts in Art History with an English minor from the University of Auckland. Her 2004 Phd thesis, ‘Hysterical Scenes: Case Studies in Contemporary Photography’ looks at the relationship between feminism, psychoanalytic theory and contemporary photographic practice. She has taught in the School of Literary, Visual and Performance Studies at Monash University and the Department of Art History at the University of Auckland. Her current role at the University of Melbourne combines teaching and research in the university art museum, with a focus on interdisciplinary practice and practice-based research. Kyla is a regular examiner of postgraduate research degrees for universities in Australia and New Zealand.

Kyla has held key curatorial positions at the Queensland Art Gallery/Gallery of Modern Art, Brisbane; the Centre for Contemporary Photography and Monash University Museum of Art in Melbourne. Over two decades, her curating and art writing has focussed primarily on lens-based, feminist, performative and emerging art practices in her region. An active member of the Melbourne art community, she has mentored emerging curators and writers and is regularly engaged to sit on judging panels and exhibition advisory committees. In 2014 she was an Asialink Arts Resident in Singapore.

An experienced public speaker, Kyla has presented conference papers, participated in and chaired panels, opened exhibitions and presented guest lectures at numerous venues in Australia, New Zealand and Singapore.

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