Anthony Mackey.

Anthony Mackey is a visual artist from Waterford, Ireland. Mackey studied at Limerick School of Art and Design where he graduated in 2009 with a first class honours BA Degree in Fine Art: Painting. In 2010 he graduated from the National College of Art and Design, Dublin with a Postgraduate Diploma in Community Arts Education. In 2012 Mackey graduated from the Robert Gordon University, Aberdeen, Scotland with an MSc in I.L.S.

Mackey’s practice has been described as being quite socially engaged. The focus of his work has been social housing developments in low income areas and areas of social disadvantage. Mackey’s work examines issues inherent in such areas. Issues such as social disparity, social prejudice, social exclusion, addiction, urban decay, unemployment and deindustrialization are to the fore of Mackey’s practice. Mackey is particularly interested in marginalized and disenfranchised groups and notions of masculinity that exist in some sections of society. Mackey also has an interest in notions of collaborative practice and working in a community context. Towards this end Mackey spent a year working as a Lead Artist/Project Assistant in the F2 Centre, Rialto in Dublin’s South Inner City.

In the course of his practice Mackey often uses a variety of materials procured from derelict and vacant council houses. Plywood originally used to board up the windows and doors of derelict and vacant houses is often used in the formulation of his work.

Mackey has won several awards and scholarships for his work, including the 2007 Ted and Mary O’Regan Art’s Bursary, the 2008 Limerick City Gallery Open Drawing Award and the 2009 Bank of Ireland Millennium Scholarship.