Linda Mackey, Canadian landscape artist, is Art Liaison
for International Polar Year IPO (www.ipy.org),
Director of Arctic Quest (www.nwp100.com)
and founder of Polar Artists Group. She first travelled
to the High Arctic in 2002 with renowned artist Doris
McCarthy and returned with a passion to share the
Arctic with others. She led a group of artists to
Pangnirtung, Baffin Island for a sketching trip in
2004, and with Kathy Haycock of Eganville, Ontario,
and Bonnie Levinthal of Philadelphia, began plans
for Arctic Quest and celebrating the 100th anniversary
of the Northwest Passage in 2006. The Arctic Quest
project is fully endorsed by IPY, project #338.
Linda’s painting “Follow Your Dreams”
was presented to Ontario’s Lieutenant Governor
the Honourable James Bartleman in 2006 by the TDCSB
as part of their twinning initiative between Nunavut
and schools in Toronto. Linda has taught thousands
of school children and artists art workshops based
on her Arctic travels and is Artist in Residence for
the TDCSB and The Club at Bond Head. She has also
been Artist in Residence and presented powerpoint
presentations and workshops on the Arctic for galleries,
museums, and art groups including McMichael Canadian
Art Collection and Varley Art Gallery. Linda is a
former board member of the Society of Canadian Artists
and an elected Signature Member of the Worldwide Nature
Artists Group.
The Arctic inspired Linda to simplify light and form
in her paintings and she is best known for her Arctic
landscapes. She has won several awards for her work,
which can be found in collections across Canada, United
States, and England.
EDUCATION
Arctic expedition with Doris McCarthy aboard Academic
Ioffe to Resolute, Devon Island, Baffin Island, and
Greenland, 2002
Ryerson Polytechnical Institute, Graphic Arts Management,
1983-85
York University, Fine Arts—Visual, 1981
Workshop, Jasper Park Lodge, featuring Doris McCarthy
and Jack Reid, 2001
Workshop, Buckhorn, Ontario
Various workshops through Scarborough Art Guild
Watercolour painting, Doug Purdon, 1991-1992
Watercolour painting, Tecumseth Gallery, 1981
Oil painting, Alice Forestell, 1973-1981
EXPERIENCE
- 2006 Led Arctic Quest expedition to High Arctic
celebrating 100th anniversary of Northwest Passage
- 2006 Artist Liaison, International Polar Year
(IPY) International Office, UK
- 2006 Founder Polar Artist’s Group
- 2006 Elected Signature Member of Worldwide Nature
Artists Group
- 2006 Toronto District Catholic School Board, as
part of the Lieutenant Governor’s Twinning
Initiative between Nunavut and Ontario, Linda was
asked to be artist in residence for the TDCSB and
teach Arctic workshops in all Toronto schools participating
in the project.
- March 2006 As part of the TDCSB’s Arctic
Games, Linda’s painting “Follow Your
Dreams” was presented to the Honourable James
Bartleman, Lieutenant Governor
- 2005-present Resident Artist, The Club at Bond
Head
- 2003-present Director, Arctic Quest—celebrating
100 years of the Northwest Passage and promoting
a sharing between the North and the South from East
to West (www.nwp100.com)
- July 2004 Co-led artist’s painting expedition
to the Arctic
- January 2004 Resident artist—McMichael Gallery,
Kleinburg
- October 2004 Resident artist—Varley Gallery,
Unionville
- 2004 Painting in the Arctic presentation to McMichael
Gallery, Board of Directors and staff
- 2003-present Artist in the School, Toronto Catholic
School Board, teach painting incorporating Inuit
art and culture as well as Canadian Arctic Art History
- 2003 Artist in the School, Toronto District School
Board
- October 2003 Teach workshop incorporating Inuit
art and culture to Elementary Teachers, TCDSB
- 2001-2004 Studio assistant for Doris McCarthy
- 2001-2002 Marketing designer for “Friends
of Doris McCarthy” charitable group raised
funds to install sculpture to honour Doris McCarthy
- 2000-2004 Art instructor for children out of my
studio and “en plein air”
- 2002-2006 Art instructor for seniors, Scarborough
Retirement Centre
SELECTED JURIED EXHIBITIONS
Gallery on the Grand, Waterloo, November 2006
TD Centre, Links Gallery, October 2006
McMichael Gallery Art Show and Sale, October 2006,
2004, 2003
Win Hencock Gallery, Oakville, September 2006
Bond Head Gallery, resident artist, on-going exhibitions
Toronto Art Expo, March 2006
Right Side Gallery, Penetanguishene, July-August 2005,
Feature Artist
Cedar Ridge Studio Gallery, Scarborough, 2004
Bluffs Gallery, Scarborogh, 2003, solo exhibition
Bluffs Gallery, Scarborough, 2002, group exhibition
Art Guild of Scarborough, 1990-1997
PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS
Polar Artists Group, Arctic Quest, Worldwide Nature
Artists Group, Society of Canadian Artists, New Tecumseth
Arts Council, Scarborough Arts Council
ACHIEVEMENTS
Linda was so inspired by the first trip to
the Arctic, that she led a group of artists back to
Pangnirtung, Baffin Island on a sketching trip in
2004, and is very excited to be sharing the emotional
journey of travelling to and painting in the Arctic
with 25 selected artists who share her passion.
As well as being Project Manager for Arctic Quest,
Linda is a former board member of the Society of Canadian
Artists, and Resident Artist and Gallery Manager for
the Club at Bond Head. Linda has been Artist in Residence,
and guest speaker at McMichael Gallery, Varley Gallery,
Cedar Ridge Gallery, and the Right Side Gallery in
Penetanguishene among others.
The Arctic and Doris McCarthy inspired Linda to simplify
light and form in her paintings and she is best known
for her Arctic landscapes. She has won several awards
for her work, which can be found in collections across
Canada, United States, and England.
