Ricki Spencer
A grainy black and white photograph that resembles a photocopy. The bottom two thirds of the image contain a head and shoulders crop of Ricki, who is sporting a dark coloured fur collar, and several fine chain necklaces. The standout jewellery in the image is a chunky, cylindrical beaded necklace that fits close to their collarbones.
Their hair is light brown/blonde and chin length. It sits in a loose wave, parted down the centre, framing their face. Lighter blonde highlights are visible throughout. They wear a white panama hat, with a dark ribbon around the band and a floppy brim. The hat sits back off their forehead and they wear a pair of black, rectangular framed glasses, which on the left hand side, are partially covered by their hair falling over their face. Their lips are together and they wear a half smile, half smirk, with the right side of their mouth angled upwards. Their expression is warm and engaged and they are making direct eye contact with the viewer. There is a slight light reflection off the glass in their eyewear, and the brim of their hat casts a soft shadow across their forehead.
Image Description:
Ricki Spencer (They/Them) M.Ed. is a proud First Nation queer survivor of the Stolen Generation. They are a qualified teacher, social worker and current student at the University of Melbourne completing their Master of Social Policy. They are completing their thesis on “Do secondary school teachers disrupt heteronormative practices in their classrooms?”. Ricki is the current Convenor for Sociology of Media in Australia, of the Australian Sociological Association, elected LGBTIQ Officer University of Melbourne, LGBTIQ Community Housing Reference Group Member for HAAG, Consumer Advisory Member for CIH Australia and Peer Facilitator at Thorne Harbour Health. Ricki has over 20 years’ experience working in welfare provision and education. Ricki identifies as a transgender nonbinary person with lived experiences of disability They are passionate about local planning issues in relation to access to health and services for marginalized groups in the western suburbs of Melbourne. Ricki loves her cats, plants and watching re-runs of Prisoner.
Artist's Biography: