Featuring Vali Myers
Books
Literature
An Ode to Winnie Marco Bakker & Gianni Menichetti with music by Jodi Phillis, 2022
Running Before the Wind Gianni Menichetti & Marco Bakker 2019
Notable Mentions
Shout out to the Girls: A Celebration of Awesome Australian Women, 2018
Last Girl Standing Trina Robbins, 2017
Just Kids Patti Smith, 2010
A Big Life Jenny Kee, 2006
Films
VALI, 1965 (1 min. clip)
By Sheldon Rochlin and Flame Schon (formerly Diane Rochlin)
Winner, Documentary Film Category, 1965 Mannheim Film Festival. Available to purchase by contacting Flame Schon: flame.schon@gmail.com
VALI: DEATH IN PORT JACKSON HOTEL, 1971
By Ed van der Elsken
In 1971, Ed van der Elsken travelled to Italy to film Vali in her “savage paradise” Il Porto, the spectacular canyon near Positano, where, amidst the abundant wildlife and animals she finds the inspiration to create her unique works of art. (Stream film)
THE TIGHTROPE DANCER, 1990
By Ruth Cullen
Shot on location at Il Porto, the wild valley on Italy’s Amalfi Coast where Vali has lived with her tribe of animals for over 30 years, in Naples where she dances with Vesuvian Gypsies, and in New York’s landmark Hotel Chelsea. (3 clips)
PAINTED LADY, 2002
By Ruth Cullen
In her follow up to ‘The Tightrope Dancer’, director Ruth Cullen captures Vali at her studio in the heart of Melbourne.
Press / Media
Articles – links
Kiko Kostadinov Fall 2025: Bohemian Society Women’s Wear Daily, 2025
A Lesson in True Bohemianism with the Witch of Positano Messy Nessy Chic, 2025
Vali Myers: Australian Artist State Library Victoria, 2022
Taschen Charts the Figure of the Witch It’s Nice That, 2021
Vali Myers: Teenage Ikon in Street Photograph Sydney Living Museums, 2019
Bohemian Rhapsody: Inside New York’s Chelsea Hotel The Guardian, 2019
Punks Beatniks Vagabonds: Ed van der Elsken’s World in Pictures The Guardian, 2019
Vali Myers, a Muse Ahead of her Time Grazia, 2019
Summer Solstice Beauty Looks Worth Stealing Vogue, 2017
Bohemian like you: Vali Myers the Witch of Positano Dangerous Minds, 2017
Photographing as a Need The New Yorker, 2017
An Animal Kingdom CTRL Magazine, 2016
Blondie’s Chris Stein Shares His Favorite Artists Vice Magazine, 2015
Photographs of the ‘supreme Beatnik chick’ who inspired Patti Smith Dangerous Minds, 2015
Vali Myers: Having a Moment W Magazine, 2013
The Life and Art of Vali Myers The Age, 2012
Revisiting Love on the Left Bank Vanity Fair, 2011
In the Mood for Love: Ed van der Elsken’s Love on the Left Bank The Guardian, 2011
A Portfolio The Paris Review, 1975
Seven Drawings The Paris Review, 1958
Articles – PDFs
Ballet for Business Girls The Sun Women’s Magazine, 1947
Lunchtime Ballet The Australasian Post, 1948
Interpretive Dancing The Australasian Post, 1949
Young Dancer’s Poetic Grace The Australasian Post, 1949
Australian in Paris People, 1951
A shipboard Val People, 1951
Why did Roberto leave Paris? Picture Post, 1954
Meet Weekend’s Glamour Ghoul Weekend, 1955
Our Beat Girl The Herald, 1966
Vali Beauty and the Beasts Ms. Magazine, 1976
On the Couch with Chris Beck The Age, 1994
Still Dancing Madison Magazine, 2000
Bohemian priestess dreams of finding the right house for her parting gifts The Age, 2003
Keeping house for Vali The Age, 2003
Vali Myers Garden of Eden Vogue Italia Casa, 2010
Vali Girl Harper’s Bazaar, 2011
Bohemian rhapsody The Age, 2012
Videos
Windows on Collections panel discussion State Library Victoria, 2022
Inside the Preservation Studio State Library Victoria, May 2020
Inside the Digitisation Lab State Library Victoria, April 2020
His Savage Mistress Interview with Gianni Menichetti, 2010
SBS interview with Vali, 2003
Imagine Series interview with Vali, late 1990s
SBS Dateline interview with Vali, 1993
Today Show interview with Vali, 1997
Ooh La La interview with Vali, late 1990s
Today Tonight interview with Vali, 1995
SBS Imagine interview with Vali, 1993
Vali’s World documentary, directed by Caterine Milinaire, 1984
Vali’s Diary documentary, directed by Caterine Milinaire, 1984
Panorama – ‘Blumenkinder’ interview with Rudi Rappold featuring Vali, 1979
Radio
Also of Interest
State Library Victoria is in the process of preserving and digitising Vali’s drawings, diaries, and personal effects. Explore the collection here.
State Library Victoria has two photos of Vali in their archive, taken by Norman Ikin in the 1950s: One, two.
Portrait of Vali National Portrait Gallery
A Friend in a Lift Video interview with Vali’s friend, Dimi
Everything Shines in the Darkness: A video essay about Sheldon & Diane Rochlin’s ‘Vali, the Witch of Positano’.
Letter from Vali to Sheldon Rochlin and Flame Schon (Diane Rochlin) published in Aspen Magazine #9, The Psychedelic Issue, 1971. Featuring excerpts from an extensive correspondence, all work is by Flame Schon including the photographs, shot at the same time as the ‘Vali’ (1965) film.
Mito Positano Blog ‘The Last Existentialists in the Eden of Positano’ by Luca Vespoli
Witch of Positano a blog and community
Walkers in the City Blog ‘Some Little Notes About Vali’ by Romy Ashby
Walkers in the City Blog ‘Memories of Vali’ by Carole Ramer
Reve a collection inspired by Vali by jeweller, ManiaMania
DOPE, 1968 by Sheldon Rochlin and Flame Schon (formerly Diane Rochlin). A film featuring Vali Myers in a supporting role. Available to purchase by contacting Flame Schon: flame.schon@gmail.com
The Vipers Documentary 1955, by Shinkichi Tajiri. Vali can be seen dancing at the 2.28 mark and again at 5.22
Together 1956, by Lorenza Mazzetti. Vali plays a dancer in this film about two deaf-mute dock workers in London.
Textile artist, Diane Goldie’s kimono depicting Vali.
