Colin McKinnon-Dodd - Mia Mia Gallery

Colin McKinnon-Dodd is Mia Mia Gallery’s founder, as well as its principle artist, educator and curator.

Over the past 15 years, Colin has been a founding member of many Indigenous initiatives throughout Australia including the Aboriginal Actors Corporation, Wadamba Bic, One-Fire Dance Troope and the Aboriginal Arts Development Trust. In addition, he initiated a Community Theatre Diploma Course for Indigenous actors and production designers at the Victorian College of the Arts in response to television and theatrical agents request for more trained Indigenous actors.

Colin is a lecturer in cultural awareness, Indigenous art and education. He has delivered significant performance and visual arts exhibitions as part of the Indigenous component of over 44 festivals and events.

He is also a visual artist having exhibited at the National Gallery of Victoria, Manningham Gallery, Narana Creations and at many group shows both private and public.

Colin was taught how to carve emu eggs by Billy Muir of the Yorta Yorta people from the Riverland

Colin has curated collections of significant Indigenous art works for TEAC and many other corporations, councils, shires and private collectors.

He liaises with Indigenous visual artists and the corporate and government sector in both advocacy and commercial transaction activities to achieve the best outcomes for his community. Many Aboriginal people who wish to participate more fully in the visual arts industry consider him their mentor.

Colin actively seeks out opportunities for Indigenous artists to exploit their own imagery on their own terms, enabling income streams that consolidate their longevity in the industry; one that will benefit the artists, their families and their communities.

Whilst setting up the Aboriginal Artists Development Trust, Colin was responsible for the introduction of the Lin Onus Award into the Victorian Indigenous Art Awards. The award was given out for an outstanding work by an Indigenous artist aged 30 years and under. Through Colin’s efforts The Peter Brock Foundation sponsored the award for two years and it became not only an integral part of the ceremony but it also acted as a testament to Lin Onus’ legacy.

Colin with Australian screen legend Jack Thompson

Colin & The Peter Brock Foundation

Colin has long been associated with racing legend and Australian icon Peter Brock. He is a member of the Peter Brock Foundation board and is involved in many of the group’s activites including raising funds for disadvantaged groups, coordinating programmes and much more. Colin has always played an important part in providing a bridge between Indigenous and Non-Indigenous communities, and he was pivitol in instigating a relationship between the Aboriginal community and the Peter Brock Foundation.

“Peter had this spirit in his body that pulled him closer and closer to Indigenous people. He was hungry for some light on the Aboriginal culture so that he could find his place”

- Colin’s final thought in Peter Brock: How Good Is This!

When artists visited Colin would take them to visit Peter at his farm