The Substation/ Artist/Katie Sfetkidis /
Katie Sfetkidis is a multidisciplinary artist living and working on lands of the Wurundjeri and Boon Wurrung people. Her practice is focused on exploring the history of politics and the role of the artist in civic life. Drawing on methodologies and concepts rooted in histories of social practice and performance art, her projects are often long form, spanning many years and frequently involve social engagement including: speaking with the community and participating in varied social activities. Working with institutions both inside and outside the art world Katie’s projects often lead to numerous and varied outcomes including exhibitions, discursive public events, artist books, performance lectures, drawings and installation.
In 2020 Katie was appointed the Feminist Emissary for the Queen Victoria Women’s Centre where she created the Women's Covid-19 Time Capsule. She has previously run for Mayor in the City of Melbourne (The Mayor Project, 2018). Katie has also exhibited and performed in galleries and festivals across Australia and internationally. Her work is also included in a number of publications, most recently 'Enough: artists and writers on gendered violence', edited by Vikki McInnes (2023).
Photograph by Breena Dunbar
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Nasty Women 
PRESENTED BY THE SUBSTATION
Nasty Women is a new series of drawings celebrating women in activism across time, place and movements by multidisciplinary artist Katie Sfetkidis. These works challenge historical notions of who is an activist by speaking up and speaking out from the outdoor Billboard Gallery at The Substation.
Nasty Women highlights the role of women at the forefront of political movements. Women are often spoken about as activists under the banner of "Women's Rights", however in Nasty Women Sfetkidis emphasises that women's roles in social justice movements are far more complex and intertwined. She celebrates this intersectionality by depicting women at the forefront of protests fighting for indigenous sovereignty, climate justice, LGBTQIA+ rights, and more.
This series of drawings are inspired by Sfetkidis' daily practice of documenting women fighting for justice across the world. The title, Nasty Women is borrowed from numerous placards in 'Women's Marches' across the globe. Nasty Women talk back! Challenging fixed notions of femininity, politics, Sfetkidis challenges preconceived notions of women's engagements with political movements with humour, passion and commitment.
ABOUT THE BILLBOARD GALLERY
The Substation Billboard Gallery is located outdoors on the east wall of the building, parallel to the train line. Read on for access and travel information.
