About: Gordon Mckenna Studio.
Gordon Mckenna is a British artist who lives and works in Aberdeen Scotland UK. His work is influenced by his interest in how an accumulated history of images, stories and mythologies impact on the way we shape our own personal identities. Gordon's fascination with people and the environments they live and socialise in has created a landscape of extraordinary beings living in an increasingly unpredictable, cosmopolitan and dynamic world.
"I have always been interested in the human experience and our connection to the natural world and our own natures. This connection is spiritual, mystical, magical and transcends the limitations of our physical bodies."
He attributes his style and the influences in his work to his many journeys in life and to the bright and vibrant colours he grew up with in Africa.
Gordon sells his silk-screen and digital art prints through www.gordonmckennastudio.com and selected galleries.
More about: www.gordonmckennastudio.com
Aim and objectives: To produce art works, on paper, that are lightweight and easy to transport reducing the carbon footprint of collecting original artworks. Frames and mounts for paper based work can then be easily resourced locally and this has further environmental benefits.
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Declaration:
Gordon Mckenna is the sole producer of the images and art works at www.gordonmckennastudio.com and asserts his copyright on all the images and other content used by www.gordonmckennastudio.com.
More about Gordon Mckenna
Gordon's fascination with image making began early in life but studying at university gave him his first opportunity to make art full time. The university in South Africa took a traditional approach to study and Gordon spent 4 years learning, life drawing, painting, printmaking and ceramics.
An opportunity to continue his studies in Scotland allowed Gordon to expand his practice and he began initially to make life size painted figurative sculptures before moving into large interactive installations, many resulting in film works. His fascination with the physicality of this form of art making drove this very experimental phase of work for about a decade.
Gordon returned to making paintings and ceramics full time in 2010 and continues to make provocative and experimental work in his studio.
For more information and stories about Gordons journey as an artist please visit his Blog: HERE
Awards:
Gordon won several awards between 1998 and 2009 which impacted significantly on his artistic development.
2009: Rules and Regs and Abandon Normal Devices. 1 month residency at the Bluecoat in Liverpool.
2004: Awards for individual artists. Arts Council of England. For an installation artwork at the National Film Theatre during the film festival.
2002: ArtsAdmin arts bursary recipient. To expore and develope his art practice. Tonybe Hall London.
2001 - 2005: ACME Studios Fire Station project. Bursary recipient for a 4 year artist residency in London with Acme Studios, London. Followed by a further 9 months in The Sugar house residency (2005) also in London.
1999: Aberdeen Visual Arts Award allowed Gordon to further his interest in interactive digital technologies, film and action driven artworks.
1998: John Kinross Scholarship in Florence. The Royal Scottish Academy Edinburgh. This was a 3 month residency in Florence in Italy. The impact of this experience still resonates in his current work.
Exhibitions
Current: Peacock and the Worm online gallery
2025: Gallery Heinzel Winter exhibition, Aberdeen. Scotland.
2023: The Old Bank Vault Gallery. London
2023: Hampstead Summer Festival Art Fair. London
2023: Candid Gallery, The nude (June) and Summer Salon (July). London
2022: Candid Gallery, Summer Salon. London
2017 - 2022: www.saachiart.com. 3 exhibitions. Online
2010: Bargate monument gallery and Quay Arts. A Rules and Regs project. Isle of Whight
2009: Bluecoat gallery. Refurbishment grand opening. A Rules and Regs project with Abandon Normal Devices. Liverpool
2009: Contemporary Arts Projects, the London Arts Festival.
2007: "Mythology", Solo exhibition. Shipton Street Gallery. London
2008: Tender Pixel Gallery. London
2007: "Winter Fresh Festival". Bracknell
2005: "East End Collaborations", LADA, Queen Mary University, London.
2004: National Film Theatre. Installation for film festival. London
2004: "The Fire Station Exhibition", The Old Fire Station. London
2004: "Triple Decker", Redchurch Street, London
2003: “Mirrors, signals, manoeuvres”, Camden Arts Centre. London
2003: "Open Studio", work in progress ArtsAdmin Arts bursary. Tonybee Hall. London
2000: "Merge' the Balmedie Dunes project. Limousine Bull. Aberdeenshire, Scotland
2000: The Museum of Scottish Lighthouses. Millenium Celebrations. Frazerbrugh, Scotland
2000: The McManus Gallery, Millennium Celebrations. Dundee, Scotland
1999: Justice street, Limousine Bull. Aberdeen, Scotland
1998: Duff House, Limousine Bull. Banff, Scotland
1998: Royal Scottish Academy, Summer Exhibition. Edinburgh, Scotland
1993: An Turienne Art centre, Summer Exhibition. Isle of Skye, Scotland
Education
Gordon started studying Fine Art in South Africa in 1989 at the University of Natal, Pietermaritzburg. He completed his studies and achieved a Masters Degree in Fine Art and Design in 1999 from; Grays School of art, the Robert Gordon University, Aberdeen, Scotland.
Community and Education work
During his studies at Grays School of Art in Aberdeen Gordon worked with Limousine Bull, an artist collective who he was a founder member of and served on the committee from its inauguration in 1998 for 2 years.
Gordon has worked with a number of arts organisations and educational establishments including:
Camden Arts Centre, London
Shape, London
Space Place, London
Barking College, London
Aberdeen Collage, Scotland
William Ellis School, London
Hampstead High School, London
Hackney City Farm, London
Old Oak Community Centre, London
Kilburn Youth Centre, London
Biography
Gordon was born in Zimbabwe in 1968 (then known as Rhodesia) to British parents. His father was born in Glasgow, Scotland and his mother in Watford, England. He moved with his family to South Africa when only a few months old and spent the next 23 years here. His parents returned to the UK in 1991 and he joined them in 1992. He spent 9 years in Scotland and lived at various points in Aberdeen, the Isle of Skye and Edinburgh. In 2001 he moved to London to take up an artist residency opportunity and remained there for 23 years. Gordon returned to Aberdeen in Scotland in 2024.
Gordon has work in collections in Britain, Europe, America, Canada, Australia and South Africa.