Meet Edward
Edward Mackenzie was born in CALIFORNIA, took a Fulbright Scholarship to the UK, began making his art in NEW YORK, honed his skills in NEW ZEALAND and MAINE and finally settled in STOKE-on-TRENT. Quite a journey.
Edward is a modern day upcycler. His response to a wonderful internationally sourced collection of everyday objects is to recreate them into three-dimensional assemblage art – and thus the components become the art. Alchemy!
Accomplished, collectable, witty and thoughtful – a man for all seasons.
“Mackenzie is a genius at improvising. He rarely alters his material. Rather, he accepts it physically as found, then rearranges it to create new persona. To an artist like Mackenzie, a piano is a gold mine……”
Isaacson, Philip
In the Arts: ‘The Inspired Hand.
Portland Press Herald.
February 12,2012
“Edward Mackenzie calls himself an ‘Assemblagist.’ His work is nothing less than the ‘alchemy of transformation.’ Just as his glue bonds the components, so do his ideas hold his art together….”
Robbins, Don
“Out of the Blue”
Hallowell Record
July 7, 2009
“All of Mackenzie’s work – whether collage sculpture or drawing – reveals a sophistication of concept”
“Out of the Ordinary”
America’s Graphic Design Magazine: Print May/June 1965
“His strongly designed sculptures resonate with wit, charm, humor, a whiff of nostalgia and deeper, allegorical meanings.”
Ascrizzi, Lynn
“Art with Wit” Kennebec Journal Sunday, June 24, 2007
Browse Edward's proudest exhibitions
1996
“English Seaside” – Man Ray Restaurant, New York City, USA (1996)
1993
“Frameworks” – Davidson Gallery, Seattle, Washington, USA (1993)
1995
“PianoWorks” – June Fitzpatrick Gallery, Portland, Maine, USA (1995)
1993
“Oaracle” – Christopher Moore Gallery, Wellington, New Zealand (1993)
2001
“Assemblages” – Gallery 185, Auckland, New Zealand (2001)
2017
“Dee Dum Dee Dum” – Ironbridge Fine Arts, Ironbridge, Shropshire, England (2017)
2008
“Make Art Not War” – Richmond Store Gallery, Maine, USA (2008)
2019
“Frameworks” – Barewall Art Gallery, Burslem, Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire, England (2019)
Edward Uncovered: Awards, Media & More.
2014–2021. Stokehold Studio, Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire, England
2019. Commissioned Assemblage Art Sign for Barewall Art Gallery, Burslem, Stoke-on-Trent
2007–2013. Artist/Owner, Richmond Store Gallery
2002–2007. Renovated a 1897 general goods store into a gallery and studio
1989–2002. Fine artist, occasional teaching
March 2007. Maine College of Art – 6-week collage course, USA
January 2004. The Quarry Assemblage Workshop, Whangarei, New Zealand
September 2003. Maine College of Art – 6-week collage course, USA
November 1996. Northland Polytechnic Summer School, New Zealand
1986–1988. Art Teacher, Hauraki Plains College, Ngatea, New Zealand
1972–1975. Teachers’ Training, Sidney Webb College, History Major, London, UK
1969–1975. Freelance Illustration & Design.
Commissions included:
• UK: Polydor Records, Observer Magazine, Milton Keynes Corporation, Penguin Books
• France: Jaeger Shop Window, Paris
1969–1975. Part-time Art Lecturer, UK:
• Derby College of Art
• Loughton College of Further Education
• Bournville College of Art, Birmingham
• The Regional College of Technology, Barking, London
1965. Assistant Art Director, Charlton Publications, New York, USA
1963–1964. Freelance Illustration & Design, New York.
Commissions included:
• Buitoni Foods
• Opera News
• Fortune, Holiday, and Mademoiselle Magazines
• Assistant to Alexei Brodovitch
2020. FutureLearn England (on line) Digital Skills: Social Media
2019. a-n (Artists Information Company UK) Assembly Stoke-on-Trent
1966-68. Royal College of Art, London, England
1957-60. Cooper Union Art School, New York City
1956-57. Parsons School of Design, New York City
1950. Ogunquit (summer) School of Painting, Maine, USA
2014. Open art Exhibit (First Prize) Newcastle Borough Museum, Staffordshire
1989. Queen Elizabeth II (now Creative New Zealand) Grant
1966-68. Fulbright Scholarship, RCA, London, England
The Art of Edward Mackenzie WCSH 6 (Local Origination) SN Productions‘People and Places in Maine’ interviewed by Kate Marginer, October 2007 – USA
Richmond Store GalleryTime Warner channel 9 (Local Origination) ‘Down onMain Street’ Edward Mackenzie interviewed by Katy Perry, September 2007 – USA
Edward MackenzieTelevision New Zealand ‘National Arts Program’, October 2000
Edward Mackenzie Warwick Brown “Another 100 New Zealand Artists” Auckland, NZ: Godwit, 1996
Edward Mackenzie “Art Collector Maine” Publisher: Art Collector Maine, LLC U.S.A.: 2012