Kathy Mackey is a Queensland based multidisciplinary artist whose work explores the complexity of liminal spaces between the natural/ the artificial and the public/ private. Her practice explores the performative aspects of photography and community engaged works as a shared experience. She utilises still and moving images, projections, staged installations and performative works to disrupt mainstream representations of place and to create new interpretations of her encounters.
2025 Residency : Eutopia Art Residency -Kavala, Greece
2023 Residencies:
Southport Bathing Pavilion ( January 2023) supported by Level Up , City of Gold Coast
Incubate (April 2023) supported by Placemakers*
Chateaux Orquevaux and NG Creative (France) May June 2023
2022 Residencies: Georges River AIR supported by Hurstville Museum Gallery(Sydney) March/April
Metro Arts Ferryman’s Hut Residency (November 2022)
2020 Residencies:
HOTA Rage against the V(irus) Studio Bathroom (Gold Coast)
MArts Precinct and Long Gallery (Murwillumbah)
Education in the Arts
- Doctor of Philosophy Griffith University, Brisbane 1999–2011
- Masters of Arts Education: Griffith University, Brisbane 1995–1998
- Bachelor of Education (Art): QUT, Brisbane: 1988–1989
- Diploma of Education (Art): QUT, Brisbane: 1979–1981
Awards:
2015 Smithsonian Fellowship – Washington DC
2006 Winner Bowness Photography Award- Monash Gallery of Art, Melbourne
1999 Winner of the Gold Coast City Art Prize – Parks Victoria Residency
Solo Exhibitions and Projects
2025 Let’s Organise Your Leisure Presentation, Cairns Festival , Cairns
2024 Artefacts of Leisure, 3 channel installation commission as part of Here and Now – The Gold Coast Triennial, HOTA, Gold Coast
2023 Let’s Organise Your Leisure Presentation, HORIZON Festival , Sunshine Coast
2023 Artifacts of Leisure Exhibition: Hurstville Museum and Gallery , Sydney
2022 Let’s Organise Your Leisure Presentations, HOTA Lake and SWELL Sculpture Festival , Gold Coast
2020 Floating Geometries : Long Gallery MArts Precinct , Murwillumbah
2018 Art and Architecture: Lorraine Pilgrim Gallery, Southport
2016 Projected interiors: Lorraine Pilgrim Gallery, Southport
2010 The Post- Tourist Mirror: Queensland Academy for Creative Industries Gallery, Brisbane
2007 Reliquary and Mirror: George Petelin Gallery, Southport
2007 Mirror and Reliquary: University of Queensland Art Museum
2007 Mirror Stage: Gold Coast City Art Gallery
2006 Mirror Stage: Queensland Centre For Photography, Bulimba, Brisbane
2005 The Inscripted Skin: Monash Gallery Of Art , Melbourne
2004 The Inscripted Skin: Soapbox Gallery, Fortitude Valley, Brisbane
2003 Skinfold: Soapbox Gallery, Fortitude Valley, Brisbane
Group Exhibitions/Presentations and Forums
2025 Finalist : Northern Beaches Environmental Art and Design Prize , Manly Art Gallery and Museum
2024 Finalist in the Sunshine Coast National Art Prize , Caloundra Regional Gallery
2024/5 Finalist in the Mullins Conceptual Photography Prize, Muswellbrook Regional Arts Centre
2024 Finalist in the Canberra Contemporary Photographic Prize, photo access
2022 Finalist in Byron Bay Arts Magazine Exhibition, Byron Bay
2022 Participation Critical Light (Horizon Festival , Sunshine Coast 2022)
2021 Bowness Photography Celebrates 15 Years: PHOTO2021, Smith and Stringer , Melbourne and Wangaratta Art Gallery
2020 Semifinalist in Byron Bay Arts Magazine Exhibition, Byron Bay
2020 Art Knows No Borders: Long Gallery, MArts Precinct , Murwillumbah
2013 Four Performative Acts: The Hold Artspace ,Brisbane
2007- 25 Group exhibitions represented by Lorraine Pilgrim
2006 Sold: Gold Coast City Art Gallery
2006 Forever Young: John Gordon Gallery Coffs Harbour
2006 Great Walks (Project with Craig Walsh), Gold Coast City Art Gallery
2006 Lorraine Pilgrim Presents: Deka Showroom, Fortitude Valley, Brisbane
2005 Olive Cotton Photographic Prize, Tweed Regional Gallery Murwillumbah
2005 Kodak Autumn Salon, Centre for Contemporary Photography, Melbourne
2005 Starry Eyed: Art Galleries Schubert, Gold Coast
2005 Photographic Skin: Soapbox Gallery, Fortitude Valley, Brisbane
2004 Conrad Jupiter’s Gold Cost City Art Prize: Gold Coast City Gallery
Collections
- Australian Museum of Photography( Melbourne)
- Parks Victoria Corporate collection
- Ipswich Regional Gallery
- HOTA (The Home of the Arts) Gold Coast City
- Daryl Hewson Collection
- Private collections
Publications
Print – View Finding Monash Gallery of Art 1990- 2020, (2020) MGA, Melbourne, p 142
Video – 2025 Bowness 20th Anniversary Series Kathy Mackey
Grants
2025 Cairns Regional Council RADF ($10 000) Delivery of Let’s Organise Your Leisure at the Cairns Festival
2023 City Of Gold Coast RADF ($15 000) Delivery of Let’s Organise Your Leisure at the Horizon Festival
2022 Arts Queensland ( $10 000) Research Residency at the Metro Arts Ferryman’s Hut
Kathy Mackey 