Rukaya Springle
Rukaya Springle is a Zanzibari-Australian multidisciplinary artist and intersectional feminist based in Naarm (Melbourne). Her research-led practice, working at the intersection of digital media and critical theory, investigates diasporic memory, glitch as decolonial resistance, and the somatic retention of colonial violence through a dreamlike, Afrofuturist lens. Her work explores trauma, mental health, spirituality, and the narratives of marginalised BIPOC communities, while powerfully centring Black joy and resilience.
Springle's work has been recognised nationally, including receiving the prestigious People's Choice Award in the National Gallery of Victoria's 2017 Top Arts exhibition. Her professional practice includes significant commissions for organisations such as VicHealth, Multicultural Arts Victoria (MAV), and Drummond Street Services, where her art facilitates crucial socio-political discourse. Her work has been featured in publications including The Black Joy Project and exhibited nationally.
She is currently completing a Bachelor of Fine Arts (Drawing) at RMIT University, deepening her exploration of how digital fragmentation can visualise the complexities of biracial identity and cultural inheritance. Her practice is defined by a commitment to formal innovation as a method of ethical and political inquiry, further developing her conceptual and technical approach to creating immersive, narrative-driven art.
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SELECTED PROJECTS & COMMISSIONS
2024 Licensed Dreamscapes artwork for Multicultural Arts Victoria (MAV), supporting community engagement for Malthouse Theatre’s The Hate Race.
2023 Artist, Yo CiTY Connect: AFRO FUTURE, Abbotsford Convent.
2022–Present Commissioned by VicHealth to create the Nyuso Artwork for their building, West Melbourne.
2022 Commissioned by Drummond Street Services to create LinkUp artwork, Carlton.
2021 Commissioned by Embraced Body Disability Services to create artwork.
2021 Commissioned by Multicultural Arts Victoria (MAV) and Darebin FUSE Festival to create TakeBaCk! artwork and visual media.
2020 Artist, CTRL+F: a Femme Festivus, Section 8, Melbourne.
2019 Panelist, Taking Up Space: The Body, Talking Fattness and its Intersections (Panel & Podcast), InVisible / Drummond Street Services, Carlton.
2019 Commissioned by 3CR Melbourne and Pauline Vetuna to create Power from the Margins artwork and visual media.2019 Commissioned by the Victorian College of the Arts for F**king A visual media.
2018 Artist, Solstice Festival, Section 8, Melbourne.
2017 & 2019 Artist, One Beat One Love Celebration, Immigration Museum.
2017 Commissioned by The Arts Centre Melbourne to create artwork.
EXHIBITIONS
2025 Epitaph, RMIT Building 2, Melbourne.
2025 A4 Art Exhibition, RMIT Site Eight Gallery, Melbourne.
2024 Solo Exhibition, Elvies Studio, Collingwood.
2023 The Central Desert Digital Art Prize (Group), Bindi Enterprise at RAFT Artspace, Ciccone, NT.
2019 fEMPOWER (Group), Schoolhouse Studios, Coburg.
2018 Cat Fight Art Show 02 (Joint), The Old Bar, Fitzroy.
2017 Hyper Fragility, Melbourne Fringe (Collaboration).
2017 Oh Snap! Exhibition (Joint), Afrohub, Carlton North.
2017 Door Night Exhibition, The Doorman Film, Lindberg Galleries (Group).
2017 Top Arts Exhibition, NGV Australia, The Ian Potter Centre, Melbourne
AWARDS, PUBLICATIONS & FEATURES
2023 Artwork featured in The Black Joy Project book.
2018 Featured artist, Folk Magazine.
2017 People’s Choice Award Winner, Top Arts Exhibition, NGV Australia.
2017 Featured artist and MVP of the month, Be Collective Culture magazine.