Ally McKay
Biography
Ally McKay is an Australian artist based in Meanjin/Brisbane. Her practice explores concepts of materiality and language through diverse mediums, including paper, installation, video, and assemblage.
With a Bachelor of Fine Art (Hons) from Queensland College of Art, Griffith University (2015), McKay's works have been showcased nationally, including Hazelhurst Art Gallery and Griffith University Art Galleries.
Notable accolades include Highly Commended at Hazelhurst Art on Paper Awards (2017) and finalist in Banyule Award for Works on Paper (2022).
McKay's solo exhibitions include "A P A R T" at The Project Gallery (2022) and "Taut" at Wreckers Artspace (2018). Featured in publications like Garland Magazine, her pieces are held in esteemed collections such as Griffith Artworks and The State Library of Queensland.
Artist Statement:
With a minimalist aesthetic and a keen sensitivity to the subtleties of lived experience, my work offers a reflection on the complexities of existence. Through investigations of materiality and language, I employ techniques such as weaving, folding, embossing, stitching and cutting to harness a material poetics and manipulate structures of communication. Through sculptural installations, video, text and paper, I draw upon repetition, shadow and space to invite introspective contemplation on subjects of tension, and experiences requiring strength and vulnerability.
CV.
Contact alisonmckay@live.com.au
Education
2018 - 2021 Master of Teaching (Secondary), Queensland University of Technology.
2017 Letterpress short course, Harrington and Squire, London.
2015 Griffith University Bachelor of Fine Arts with Honours, Queensland College of Art.
2012 – 2014 Griffith University Bachelor of Fine Arts, Queensland College of Art.
Solo Exhibitions
2025 (UPCOMING) Paper Parts, Logan Art Gallery, Brisbane.
2022 A P A R T, The Project Gallery, Brisbane.
2018 Taut, Wreckers Artspace, Brisbane.
Selected Group Exhibitions
2024 Process(ed), Articulate Project Space, Parramatta.
2023 Mind, Matter, Thoughts on Form, Pop Gallery, Brisbane.
Holding, Webb Gallery, Brisbane.
Urbania #1, Woolloongabba Art Gallery, Brisbane.
Vast and Vivid, Impress Art Gallery, Brisbane.
2022 Banyule Award for Works on Paper 2021, Victoria.
2021 Seeing Stillness, Impress Art Gallery, Brisbane.
OuterSpace Artist Run Initiative Fundraiser, Brisbane.
2020 Tie, Tether, Tangle, Impress Art Gallery, Brisbane.
2019 OuterSpace Artist Run Initiative Fundraiser, Brisbane.
Cats Don’t Go To Heaven, Outerspace Art Gallery, Brisbane.
Subtle, Woolloongabba Upstairs Art Gallery, Brisbane.
Play with Paper, Pine Rivers Regional Art Gallery, Strathpine, Brisbane.
2018 Residue, Clarence School House Art Gallery, Tasmania.
2017 Pieces, Metro Arts, CutThumbLaundry Artspace, Brisbane.
Art on Paper Award 2017, Hazelhurst Gallery, Sydney.
Gimme Gimme More!, Cut Thumb Laundry Fundraiser, The Laundry Artspace, Brisbane.
MOTE, The Webb Gallery, Brisbane.
2015 GAS Leak: Graduate Art Show, The Laundry Artspace, Brisbane.
EXIT, Pop Gallery, Brisbane.
UNEASE, The Laundry Artspace, Brisbane.
abbe: books by artists, Webb Gallery, Brisbane.
WunderKammer, The Hub Caboolture Regional Art Gallery, Caboolture.
Everything Is Connected, The Hold Artspace, Brisbane.
2014 Do Not Consume, The Hold Artspace, Brisbane.
MERGE, Canopy Art Centre, Cairns.
Between Us, The Upstairs Thing, Jugglers Art Space, Brisbane.
First Impressions, The Project Gallery, Brisbane.
Changing of the Guard, White Box Gallery, Brisbane.
2013 11:11, Woolloongabba Art Gallery, Brisbane.
Anxiety, Bleeding Heart Art Gallery, Brisbane.
Arrival, Webb Gallery, Brisbane.
Publications
2022 Garland Magazine, Miranda Hine, Subtle Cuts: New word sculptures by Ally McKay link
2017 Interview: Ally McKay, In-Residence online publication link
Review: Mote, Annelize Mulder, In-Residence online publication link
Exhibition Essay: Mote, Dr. Tim Mosely, Catalogue publication link
2015 Everything Is Connected, Pat Hoffie, Catalogue publication link
2013 11:11 Catalogue publication, Naomi O'Reilly
Residencies
2018 Wreckers Artspace Artist in Residence, Brisbane.
(January - March)
Awards
2022 Finalist, Banyule Award for Works on Paper 2021
2017 Young and Emerging Artist Highly Commended, Hazelhurst Art Gallery
Collections
Griffith Artworks, Griffith University, Brisbane.
Magnani Papers Australia, Melbourne.
The State Library of Queensland
Queensland College of Art Print Media Department
Private Collections
Follow me on Instagram @allymckayartist