Holly MacKinven is a New Zealand artist whose work delves into the evolving relationship between humanity and the natural world. In an era marked by technological advancement and a growing disconnect from nature, MacKinven’s art seeks to explore paths of reconnection. She draws inspiration from early abstract art and 19th-century nature mysticism, investigating how re-enchantment with nature can serve both ecological sustainability and personal well-being.
Since 2008, MacKinven has gained recognition for her intricate paint collages. These works feature densely layered surfaces, often populated by hundreds of cell-like paint spots. Each spot is meticulously applied, allowing the image to organically emerge and expand, giving the sense that the artwork ‘grows’ rather than being constructed. The scale in her works is fluid, evoking themes of organic development that resonate on both micro and macro levels.
Holly MacKinven is based in Dunedin, New Zealand. Her work has been exhibited in dealer galleries in Auckland and Brisbane and she has been a finalist in a number of prestigious New Zealand art competitions and awards, including The New Zealand Painting and Printmaking Award, The National Contemporary Art Award, and the Wallace Art Awards . In 2006 her sculptural work entitled ‘Garden’ was added to The Arts House Trust, Pah Homestead collection and she also has paintings in private collections throughout New Zealand . Most recently she has been a finalist in The Small Sculpture Prize, and the RT Nelson Awards for Sculpture.
Holly was awarded an MFA (Hons) from the Elam School of Fine Arts in Auckland in 2005, and in 2009 she completed a Diploma in Digital Film at the Southern Institute of Technology, where she also tutored until 2013. She currently teaches painting and drawing at the Dunedin School of Art.