During this intimate in-conversation, delve deeper into Tessa’s practice and technique, where her inspiration comes from, and what her future holds as she embarks on a new journey through her artistic process.

About Tessa MacKay 

During the residency, Tessa’s 3.3m x 2.1m hyperreal portrait of iconic Aussie actor, David Wenham, titled ‘Through the Looking Glass” which won the 2019 Archibald Packing Room Prize will be exhibited, alongside her large portrait of celebrated indigenous actor, Trevor Jamieson. In addition, she will unveil a brand new artwork, a piece that took close to two years to complete. The three artworks form a five-year retrospective of Tessa’s practice, a style of portrait painting known as hyperrealism.

Tessa is currently at a crossroads in her artistic practice and whilst in residency will be embarking on a new journey as she finds herself drawn towards natural landscapes and botany, inspired by Australian artists Marky Tonkin and Philippa Nikulinsky. The residency will provide Tessa with the supportive and inspiring opportunity to mark this new chapter, during which she will experiment with a more playful and painterly style of nature-oriented still life studies.