Mackenzie’s Middlesbrough Murals premiere at Teesside

World renowned artist Mackenzie Thorpe created ten new and unique pieces for a new exhibition unveiled at Teesside University.

Over 2,000 visitors flocked to see his new work for the first time when it officially opened at the University. The exhibition is now on display at the University until 29 October.

Mackenzie had a huge hit with a show last year at the Captain Cook Birthplace Museum – but he had 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.

His 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.

But 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 is a double honorary graduate of Teesside University, awarded a Master of Arts degree in 2000 and Doctor of Arts ten years later

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.

He said: ‘I wanted to create something new and fresh, something that would celebrate the fact that this is a landmark exhibition for me.

‘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.’

---