About
Living in Naarm, so-called Australia. At home anywhere there is nature.
Teague Leigh is an autistic trans man from planets unknown, currently residing in Naarm. Once upon a time he was anthologised in various works and performed his spoken words around the country. In 2012 Teague developed schizophrenia, a subsequent cognitive disability, and was also diagnosed with autism. As words became harder to obtain, Teague substituted writing for photography, something he had not pursued for decades when he learnt to develop his analog images in darkrooms. Now Teague is letting his landscape images speak for him.
Making a writing comeback, in 2021 Teague had a non-fiction story published within the Bent Street 5.1 anthology “Soft Borders, Hard Edges”, which was accompanied by two of his landscape images. He has also had an article, discussing living with an invisible disability, published on the Archer website.
Photographic highlights include being approved on iStock through Getty Images for distributable licensing and repeatedly having his images highlighted on Flickr’s Explore page. Past images have received Commendations five years in a row in The Mono Awards as well as receiving a Commendation in Landscape Photography World Awards, Australasia’s Top Emerging Photographers Awards in 2022, and Highly Commended in 2023.
In 2022-23 Teague Leigh became the recipient of the Midsumma Pathways Program, offering disabled creatives a mentor for nine months. This mentorship has allowed Teague to achieve his artistic vision by queering up his landscape photography; reach a broader audience; exhibit solo works; and develop the technique of storytelling to promote his creativity nationally.
As well as focusing on his debut solo exhibition at Sol Gallery, 7th September, 2023, Teague has exhibited with other artists living with a disability in Naarm at the Yarra Sculpture Gallery as the culmination of his 7 week summer residency, in the Artstop show “Shining A Light Into The Darkness”, at Schoolhouse Studios, Coburg, Emergency:Action at Climarte Gallery in Richmond, and Living Colours at Brunswick Uniting Church (amongst others - see his CV for more).
On Thursday 29th June, Teague’s second essay for Archer was published, coinciding with the anniversary of the Stonewall Riots. ‘Protest Alongside Pride’, asks allies of the LGBTQIA+SB community to actively protest 365 days a year and not just save it for joining us at parties during Pride month.
His sensational Gala Exhibition Opening in January, was a triumph of the amazing rainbow community - follow his blog pages for more information.
Testimonials
"Still yet fluid, calm but fierce animalistic energis emerge from Teague's photos" by Taka Takiguchi, InPermanence Productions.
"He well captured the undercurrent emotions' by Tony Yap, ‘Animalising, Becoming Animal’, 2024.
Images of ‘Animalising, Becoming Animal’ by Teague Leigh at the Abbotsford Convent as part of the 2024 Midsumma Festival. See more of these images in my Event Photography pages.