Angus McGrath (he/him/they) is an artist, writer, and performer living and working on unceded Gadigal Land. His work is about the limits of text, the limits of the body, and suburban failure. McGrath is currently undertaking a Masters of Fine Arts at UNSW about queer readings of the under-defined “closet screenplay” literary style. He has just completed a performance at Carriageworks for Vivid and Soft Centre under his musical moniker California Girls.
PUBLICATIONS AND PROGRAMS
Essay for Sydney Review of Books (upcoming)
Essay for “Music” screen program at Sydney Opera House (upcoming)
Introduction for screening of the film Blue (1993) at AGNSW (2025)
Essay for The Australasian Journal of American Studies vol. 43.2 (2024)
Film and Music Reviewer for The Big Issue (2021 to present)
Essay for Marcus Whale album “Ecstasy” booklet (2024)
Essay for Overshare Multiplex Film Festival, Melbourne (2023)
Prose for SCAB Mag vol. 13 (2023)
Poem for Australian Poetry Journal vol. 12.2 (2023)
Criticism for Runway Journal (2023)
Essay for Tim Hardy’s “Helium” exhibition publication, Melbourne (2022)
Essay for un. Magazine vol. 15.2 (2021)
Poem for Cordite vol. 103 (2021)
Poem for Marcus Whale album “The Hunger” booklet (2021)
Poem for no more poetry’s no no no Mag no. 1 (2021)
EXHIBITIONS AND PERFORMANCES
Sound operator and performer for Ecstasy by Marcus Whale for Liveworks at Carriageworks, Sydney and Rising at The Substation, Melbourne (2024-2025)
Solo performance work for Blue Void at Red Rattler, Sydney (2024)
Solo exhibition at Brand X CoSCS you’re okay Gallery, Sydney (2023)
Collaborative live score for film screening at Pink Flamingo Cinema, Sydney (2023)
Collaborative exhibition at KINGS Gallery, Melbourne (2023)
Group exhibition and solo performance curated by Anja Loughhead at CCAS Gallery, Canberra (2023)
Group exhibition curated by Tesha Malott at Verge Gallery, Sydney (2023)
Performance lecture for Queer Powerpoint at MCA Biennale of Sydney (2022)
Collaborative exhibition at Firstdraft Gallery, Sydney (2022)
Performance lecture for Writing + Concepts, Melbourne (2021)
Performance for Liveworks: Livedreams at Carriageworks, Sydney (2021)
Group exhibition curated by Jackie De Lacy at AD Space, Sydney (2020)
Group exhibition and performance curated by David Broker at CCAS, Canberra (2019)Collaborative exhibition and performance with Peter Maloney at Tributary Projects, Canberra (2017)
MUSIC
I make solo electronic music under the name California Girls. I’ve released 2 albums, the most recent of which of which was nominated for Record of the Year at the FBi Radio SMAC Awards. I’ve played Vivid’s Soft Centre event, MONA’s Dark Mofo festival, and performed across the country with artists including Molly Nilsson, The Garden, and Hot Chip. I also play in a punk band called Perfect Actress, who have played in Sydney, Melbourne, Wollongong, and Canberra, and I’ve performed as a session drummer twice at Phoenix Central Park, first for Melbourne rapper Teether, then for Greek/Berlin experimental pop singer Abyss X, both in 2023.
Additional Experience and Awards
Editor for short film “The Weight of Small Things” written & directed by Maxamiliano Dal Masetto, Sydney (upcoming)
Volunteer presenter at FBi Radio, Sydney (2020 to 2025)
The Australasian Journal of American Studies Postgraduate Essay Prize (2024)
Writer and Director of short film “Unmade Bed”, Sydney (2024)
Sound designer for Force Majeure Theatre Company’s “IDK” show at Carriageworks, Sydney, and Arts House, Melbourne (2023)
Sound designer for Too Rude’s “Nature is Healing” show, Sydney (2023)
Score composer for short film “The Waves” written & directed by Emma McManus, Melbourne (2023)