“Thinking Inside the Box”
Works by Alison Mackay
Exploring the eclectic interiors of ‘The Artists’ Houses’ in Far North Queensland, Alison Mackay’s distinctive paintings on unfolded domestic packaging offer a highly individual approach to art-making. The irregular shape of these tiny panoramas highlights the dimensionality of each space, while, up close, the lovingly observed details celebrate their unique décor.
The unfolded packaging – repurposed tea and drug packets, food and takeaway containers and collaged book pages – shows the surrounding circumstances for the artist. Books being read, food consumed and even Covid test packets from the height of the pandemic when some of the works were made.
Referencing concepts of recycling and consumer culture, these works are both an exploration and celebration of the places in which we live and the material things that surround us.
(Alison was supported by a Shoalhaven Arts Board grant, 2023).
Alison Mackay – bio.
My art practice has predominantly focused on the still life genre over the last 20 years, however, during this time, I have also made landscapes, interiors and portrait paintings.
I’m mostly a studio-based painter working in oil paint, but my practice has expanded over the last 5-10 years to include travel and residency opportunities where I tend to focus on drawing and mixed media works.
Over this time I have been involved in:
12 Solo and 2-person painting exhibitions throughout NSW and the ACT
20+ group exhibitions throughout Australia
50+ finalist places in major art prize exhibitions including the Archibald, NSW Parliament’s Plein Air Painting Prize, Portia Geach Memorial Award, STILL- National Still Life Award.
7 prize awards including the 2020 Gallipoli Art Prize, Waverley Works on Paper Prize and Fishers’ Ghost Traditional Art Prize.
Website: http://alisonmackay-latestwork.weebly.com
Instagram: @alisonmackayartist