Mary MacGregor-Reid is a video and photographic artist from Auckland, New Zealand. She has a particular interest in alchemical process and human experience of the otherworldly.
Taking on character archetypes is intrinsic to much esoteric ritual, along with movement, gesture and the use of tools or symbolic objects. Mary became curious about the way we perform character, in part, through the veritable wardrobe of flamboyant personas cultivated by her Great Grandfather, who spearheaded the Druid revival in early 20th century Britain. She is currently compiling a book about this colourful character, examining his part in both the Victorian occult revival and the British labour party.
Although Mary works primarily in figurative moving image, she is a maker and sees the hands-on creation of costume and object to be an integral part of her practice; all of the costumes and props used within her video and photography are made by hand in her studio.
This combination of esoteric practice and historical research creates a rich selection of inspiration for Mary to draw upon when creating her lens-based work.
Exhibitions
2025 - ‘Where the Veil is Thinnest’ with Coven of Era, George Fraser Gallery, Auckland, NZ
2024 - ‘The 68th Blake Prize’ Finalist exhibiton, Casula Powerhouse, Sydney, Aus
2024 - ‘Suburban Tartarus’ Solo exhibition, Contemporary Art Space, New Plymouth, NZ
2024 - ‘Collections and Connections’ Group exhibition, Left Bank Gallery, Greymouth, NZ
2023 - ‘Yours Truly x’ Group exhibition, Percy Thomson Gallery, Stratford, NZ
2023 - ’Private Viewing’ Group exhibition, Contemporary Art Space, New Plymouth, NZ
2023 - ‘When We Have Spoken Openly We Have Said Nothing’, Contemporary Art Space, New Plymouth, NZ - Solo exhibition
2022 - ‘Loving Across Distances’ Group exhibition, Ahuriri Contemporary, Napier, NZ
2022 - ‘We all think we are good people’ Group exhibition, Percy Thomson Gallery, Stratford, NZ
2022 - ‘Celestial Bodies’ Solo multichannel video installation, Contemporary Art Space, New Plymouth, NZ
2021 - ‘We all think we are good people’ Group exhibition, Contemporary Art Space, New Plymouth, NZ
2021 - ‘Communicating Vessels’, Photospace Gallery, Wellington, NZ with Hayley Theyers and Kate Rampling
2020 - ‘Communicating Vessels’, Black Asterisk, Auckland for the with Hayley Theyers and Kate Rampling, Auckland Festival of Photography, NZ
2019 - ‘Rubedo’ Solo exhibition, Kingsize, Auckland, NZ
2019 - ‘Bitter Harvest’ Group exhibition, Black Asterisk, Auckland, NZ
2019 - ‘What Remains’ Group exhibition, DEMO, Auckland, NZ
2019 - ‘Occulture Salon’ Group exhibition, Wellington, NZ
2018 - ‘Nigredo’ Solo exhibition, Kingsize, Auckland, NZ
2016 - ‘Esoteric Salon’ Group exhibition, Buratti Gallery, Perth, Australia
2016 - ‘Art Ache’ Group exhibition, Golden Dawn, Auckland, NZ
2016 - ‘Glaister Ennor Award’ finalists exhibition, Sanderson Gallery, Auckland, NZ
Public Art Lectures
2017 - “Embodying Character in Art and the Occult” lecture, City Gallery, Wellington for the ‘Occulture’ exhibition programme.
Residencies
2017 - January-February ‘Silence, Awareness, Existence’ residency at Arteles Residency, Hämeenkyrö, Finland.