‘Nothing is perfect, not life, not humanity and certainly not my work; it is the flaws , the gaps, the unspoken; the bits unsaid, which make us both interesting and human’
MACKENZIE THORPE’S TRIUMPH OVER ADVERSITY
MACKENZIE’S HUMBLE CHILDHOOD BEGAN IN MIDDLESBROUGH, NORTH YORKSHIRE, AN INDUSTRIAL TOWN IN NORTHERN ENGLAND BEST KNOWN AS ONE OF THE LOCATIONS INCLUDED IN THE FILM BILLY ELLIOT. SIMILAR TO THE FILM’S STORY, THORPE HAD TO OVERCOME TREMENDOUS ODDS TO PURSUE HIS ARTISTIC DREAMS.
THORPE’S EARLY DAYS IN MIDDLESBROUGH WERE PLAGUED BY HIS UNDIAGNOSED DYSLEXIA, A SERIES OF MANUAL LABOUR JOBS, LONG STRETCHES OF UNEMPLOYMENT AND FINALLY A FAILED SUICIDE ATTEMPT. A FRIEND REALIZED MACKENZIE’S DRAWING TALENTS AND ENCOURAGED HIM TO GO TO THE LOCAL COLLEGE FOR ART CLASSES. TWENTY YEARS LATER HE would BECOME ONE OF THE CONTEMPORARY ART WORLD’S BRIGHTEST STARS.MACKENZIE THORPE’S IMAGES OF HOPE, LOVE AND JOY HAVE BEEN COLLECTED BY HEADS OF STATE, CELEBRITIES, GALLERIES AND COLLECTORS WORLDWIDE. NOTABLE DEVOTEES INCLUDE BRITISH CONSERVATIVE PARTY LEADER WILLIAM HAGUE AND THE ROLLING STONE’S BILL WYMAN. COMMISSIONS INCLUDE HM QUEEN elizabeth 2nd, A SERIES OF PAINTINGS FOR ELTON JOHN’S AIDS FOUNDATION, AND ORIGINAL WORK FOR PRINCESS ANNE’S SAVE THE CHILDREN FUND. UEFA , CASH FOR KIDS THE BOYS AND GIRLS CLUBS OF AMERICA. AND MANY MORE WORLDWIDE CHARITIES.
THORPE, WHO STRUGGLED TO FINISH SCHOOL, WOULD GO ON TO RECEIVE AN HONORARY DEGREE AND DOCTORATE FROM TEESSIDE UNIVERSITY, MIDDLESBROUGH IN RECOGNITION OF HIS OUTSTANDING CONTRIBUTION TO THE WORLD OF CONTEMPORARY ART. NOT BAD FOR A LAD FROM A COUNCIL ESTATE IN MIDDLESBOROUGH!
MACKENZIE’S HUMBLE CHILDHOOD BEGAN IN MIDDLESBROUGH, NORTH YORKSHIRE, AN INDUSTRIAL TOWN IN NORTHERN ENGLAND BEST KNOWN AS ONE OF THE LOCATIONS INCLUDED IN THE FILM BILLY ELLIOT. SIMILAR TO THE FILM’S STORY, THORPE HAD TO OVERCOME TREMENDOUS ODDS TO PURSUE HIS ARTISTIC DREAMS.
THORPE’S EARLY DAYS IN MIDDLESBROUGH WERE PLAGUED BY HIS UNDIAGNOSED DYSLEXIA, A SERIES OF MANUAL LABOUR JOBS, LONG STRETCHES OF UNEMPLOYMENT AND FINALLY A FAILED SUICIDE ATTEMPT. A FRIEND REALIZED MACKENZIE’S DRAWING TALENTS AND ENCOURAGED HIM TO GO TO THE LOCAL COLLEGE FOR ART CLASSES. TWENTY YEARS LATER HE would BECOME ONE OF THE CONTEMPORARY ART WORLD’S BRIGHTEST STARS.MACKENZIE THORPE’S IMAGES OF HOPE, LOVE AND JOY HAVE BEEN COLLECTED BY HEADS OF STATE, CELEBRITIES, GALLERIES AND COLLECTORS WORLDWIDE. NOTABLE DEVOTEES INCLUDE BRITISH CONSERVATIVE PARTY LEADER WILLIAM HAGUE AND THE ROLLING STONE’S BILL WYMAN. COMMISSIONS INCLUDE HM QUEEN elizabeth 2nd, A SERIES OF PAINTINGS FOR ELTON JOHN’S AIDS FOUNDATION, AND ORIGINAL WORK FOR PRINCESS ANNE’S SAVE THE CHILDREN FUND. UEFA , CASH FOR KIDS THE BOYS AND GIRLS CLUBS OF AMERICA. AND MANY MORE WORLDWIDE CHARITIES.
THORPE, WHO STRUGGLED TO FINISH SCHOOL, WOULD GO ON TO RECEIVE AN HONORARY DEGREE AND DOCTORATE FROM TEESSIDE UNIVERSITY, MIDDLESBROUGH IN RECOGNITION OF HIS OUTSTANDING CONTRIBUTION TO THE WORLD OF CONTEMPORARY ART. NOT BAD FOR A LAD FROM A COUNCIL ESTATE IN MIDDLESBOROUGH!
Y E A R S 1989 - 1992Y E A R S 1993 - 1996Y E A R S 1997 - 2000Y E A R S 2001 - 2004Y E A R S 2005 - 2008Y E A R S 2009 - 2012Y E A R S 2013 - 2016Y E A R S 2017 - 2019 |
#1989 AND STARTING OUT WAS UNDOUBTEDLY A STRUGGLE AND PERHAPS ONE COULD SAY LIFE ISN'T ALWAYS A BOWL OF CHERRIES. BUT HE HAD BELIEF BY THE BUCKET LOAD.
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