Mackenzie’s Middlesbrough Murals to premiere at Teesside

World renowned artist Mackenzie Thorpe is creating eight new and unique pieces for an exhibition at Teesside University.

His new work will be exhibited at the University in the centre of Middlesbrough for the first time from 3-29 October.

Mackenzie had a huge hit with a show last year at the Captain Cook Birthplace Museum – but he has always wanted to show his work at the heart of the town in which he was born and which has been an integral influence on his art.

Mackenzie is a double honorary graduate of Teesside University, awarded a Master of Arts degree in 2000 and Doctor of Arts ten years later. With a new exhibition space built into the University reception in Middlesbrough Tower, the idea was born to fulfil Mackenzie’s dream of bringing his work into the heart of the community that inspires him.

Mackenzie Thorpe’s work has been shown all over the world including the United States, Japan and Australia – and in some of London’s most exclusive galleries. But his dream has always been to show his work in Middlesbrough.

And he was so delighted to be invited by Vice-Chancellor Professor Graham Henderson CBE to put on a show at the University; he decided to create a suite of original artworks for the exhibition.

The exhibition has the working title of ‘Middlesbrough Murals’ but Mackenzie is keeping their content close to his chest.

A landmark exhibiton He said: “I wanted to create something new and fresh, something that would celebrate the fact that this is a landmark exhibition for me. But I don’t want to reveal too much as the work is changing all the time.

“Having an exhibition in my home that is about my home town is a very special honour. Middlesbrough is inside me and always has been but this new work will be particularly poignant for me.

“The people of Middlesbrough see themselves in my work and people can visit this exhibition in the centre of the town and walk to see landmarks like the Transporter Bridge.”

Despite Mackenzie Thorpe’s originals being snapped up by a suite of celebrity followers from the worlds of politics, film, TV, football and business, Mackenzie, 55, delights in ensuring his work is accessible to the people and places that have made up his artistic landscape for more than 30 years.

He grew up in a two bedroomed terrace near Union Street – his arrival took the residents of 66 Pauls Road up to a total of 11. His parents moved to the new Beechwood estate when he was a toddler. He is the eldest of seven children and famously dyslexic.

Mackenzie added: “I was labelled thick and lazy. I went through some difficult times at school and then working as a labourer and at Smith’s Dock – but eventually this was what inspired me to become an artist and tell the story of the people of Middlesbrough.

“And I hope they are going to enjoy my new work which has been created specifically for this Middlesbrough show – I am really looking forward to unveiling this work at Teesside University.”

For more details on Mackenzie’s exhibition email Jane Hutchinson at j.hutchinson@tees.ac.uk

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