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   Mark McCarthy’s body of open-ended paintings Near Surrender create a sense of infinity in examining the boundary of sensory experience of the world. Recognisable forms blend softly with the decontextualized, inspiring a sense of awe at the intensity of our natural world. Vast however intimate, Mark’s work explores a sense of presence, situated within a landscape, within a moment. These works observe when rationality falls short in articulating a sense of encounter with reality, and what lies beyond.

Biography

 

   Mark McCarthy is a multi-award winning, Melbourne based artist with a career spanning more than 20 years.  Since graduating from the Victorian College of the Arts (VCA), he has gained a reputation for his unique approaches to painting, holding multiple solo and group exhibitions throughout Australia.  He has been a finalist in numerous national art prizes.  In 2004 he was awarded the John Leslie Art Prize for landscape painting and in 2011 he won the Whyalla Art Prize, an award he later judged in 2013. Recently, in 2022 he won the Glover Prize's Children's Choice.  Mark is a recipient of a New Work Grant from the Australia Council.  He lives and works in Melbourne, Australia.

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Solo Exhibitions​

2024    Near Surrender, Faux Gallery, Brunswick, Vic

2019     Cabins, Tacit Galleries, Collingwood, Vic

2018     Crux, Melbourne East Arts Festival, Vic

2017     Mark, City of Yarra, Richmond Library, Vic

2011      Relationships in Everywhere, Dianne Tanzer Gallery, Melbourne

2008    Everything at once never stops moving, Dianne Tanzer, Melbourne

2007    Via Fiction, Dianne Tanzer gallery, Melbourne

2006   Variable Speeds, Dianne Tanzer gallery, Melbourne     

             Weapons of Choice, The Next Wave Festival, Bus Gallery, Vic

              The Opponent, Benalla Art Gallery, Benalla Vic

2005   The Opponent, Dianne Tanzer gallery, Melbourne

2003   Cheat Mode, Red Gallery, Melbourne

2001    Untitled, 303 La Trobe St Gallery, Melbourne

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Selected group exhibitions and awards

2023    'Buggin' Out', Off The Kerb Gallery, Vic

            ‘Bowie BB’, Honeybones Gallery, Vic

                Waverley Art Prize, Bondi Pavilion, Nsw

                Whence It Came, Divisions Gallery, Vic

2022   Whitewall Art Prize 'Into The Light', Berrima, NSW

2022    The Glover Art Prize, Evandale, Tasmania

2021     Geelong Contemporary Art Prize, Geelong Art Gallery, Vic

2020   Fisher’s Ghost Art Prize, Campbelltown Art Centre, NSW

              A1 Darebin Art Salon. Bundoora Homestead, Vic

              20[20 x 20], Tacit Galleries, Collingwood 

              Gippsland Bushfire Appeal Exhibition & Auction

2018     Weddings, Parties, Anything, Collingwood Justice Centre

2018     Stanthorpe Art Prize, Qld

2015     Bayside Acquisitive Art Prize

2011      Whyalla Art Prize, South Australia, Whyalla

2010    Tidal, City of Devonport Art Award, Tasmania

2009   Whyalla Art Prize, South Australia, Whyalla

2008   Fletcher Jones Art Prize, Geelong Art Gallery, Victoria

              Williamstown Festival, Contemporary Art Prize, The Substation

2007    The Prometheus Art Award, Prometheus Art Gallery Foundation

              ‘2x20’ Counihan Gallery, Melbourne

              Williamstown Festival, Contemporary Art Prize, The Substation

2005   The Discovery Art Show, Gasworks Arts Park, Melbourne

2004   Tremor’ Space 39, Melbourne

              City of Whyalla Art Prize,Middleback Theatre, South Australia

              Fisher’s Ghost Art Award, Campbelltown City, New South Wales

              Linden Postcard Show, Linden Gallery, Melbourne

              John Leslie Art Prize, Gippsland Gallery, Sale

2003   11th A4, Westspace, Melbourne

              Leisureland, Red Gallary, Melbourne

              Brett Whiteley Travelling Art Scholarship

              Precognition, Red Gallery, Melbourne

              Smorgon Steel Contemporary Art Prize, Nelson Place, Vic

              The Fisher’s Ghost Art Award, Campbelltown, NSW

2002   Untitled, St Martins Theatre Complex, Melbourne

              Me, Mine, Ours, Red Gallery, Melbourne

              Untitled, Kent Gallery, 201 Smith St.

              Sub 500’ Dickerson Gallery, Sydney

              Graduate Show 2002, V.C.A Gallery, Melbourne        

              Post Graduate 2002 Exhibition Dickerson Gallery, Melbourne

2001    Emerging Artist Program, Bulle Gallery, Melbourne

              ANZ Visual Arts Fellowship Award 2001 380 Collins St, Melbourne

              Graduate Show 2001, V.C.A. Gallery Melbourne

              Post V.C.A Gallery, Melbourne

              Only Forward Sinclair Gallery, Corio

2000   Work from the Stables, 69 Smith St, Melbourne

Awards and Grants

2022    Winner Glover Prize Children's Choice, Evandale, Tasmania

2011     Winner, Whyalla Art Prize, Whyalla S.A

2008   Recipient New Work Grant – Emerging Artist, Australia Council

2005   Winner, Best In Show, The Discovery Art Show, Gasworks Arts Park

2004   Winner, The John Leslie Art Prize, Gippsland Gallery, Sale

2003   Winner, The Smorgan Steel, Custom Wharf Gallery Art Prize

Collections

Art Bank

Board of Studies Victoria

Gasworks Art Park

Whyalla City Council

Related

2013     Whyalla Art Prize, Judge

   

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