BIO
​
Mackenzie Giles is a Los Angeles-based interdisciplinary artist. During her youth, Giles immersed herself with and found solace in writing fantasy novels, studied the intricacies and mathematical concepts behind classical music, and dug for ancient seabed fossils on her family’s farm in the sandy soil of Southern California. All of her childhood joys would later inform her practice as she continued to develop interests in precisions, secrets, and the boundaries of artistic rules with the desire to challenge and break them.
Giles studied the human figure extensively and eventually obtained a Bachelor of Arts in sculpture from Brigham Young University, Idaho, in 2019. There, she discovered a passion for messy mediums and chaotic art-making processes. After graduating, she ventured into the realm of art restoration in Dallas, TX. Much of her artistic influence comes from this period. Engaging with everything from paintings to fine art prints, sculptures to taxidermy, etc, she handled hundreds of contemporary works of art in various states of decay. Often, she found herself in multi-million dollar homes that had suffered extensive fire damage, witnessing scenes where light switches and ceiling fans were melted off or carpets were covered with inches of mold. Fascinated by how mediums continued to transform even after the departure of the artist’s hand, Giles learned how to mimic decay and began to paint with very water-logged materials to create "stain-like" effects.
Later, she transitioned to designing and custom fabricating large-scale interior and window displays in San Francisco, CA. Her new role continued to inspire her visually, albeit in a different way. While her previous work had immersed her in the world of organic decay, this position offered an abundance of color, precision, and opportunities to create striking, graphic installations. This led to Giles honing in on her ability for methodicalness and composition, redefining her understanding of aesthetics. Her work in San Francisco evolved her artistic vision, blending attention to detail with bold, innovative designs that captivated viewers and transformed spaces.
During the isolation of COVID-19, Giles rediscovered the therapeutic technique of writing poetry, a practice she was introduced to as a child. As someone deeply interested in abstract art, she started subtly incorporating snippets of her poetry into her work, inspired by the concept of giving objects auras. This integration evolved over time, leading her to incorporate her poetry more overtly by translating it into a visual Morse code, a decision driven by her artistic vision to juxtapose organic and geometric shapes. This approach added a layer of tension to her work while also serving to strip away the personal, much like hiding secrets in plain sight.
Giles is currently pursuing a Master of Fine Arts in Drawing/Painting from California State University, Long Beach. She continues to explore new artistic endeavors, drawing inspiration from her diverse experiences and childhood passions.
​
​
​
CV
​
EDUCATION
​
2023 - 2026 Master of Fine Art in Drawing/Painting in Art, California State University, Long Beach - Long Beach, CA
2015 - 2019 Bachelor of Arts in Art with an emphasis in 3-D, Brigham Young University-Idaho - Rexburg, ID
​
​
​
EXHIBITIONS
​
2023 Graduate Critique Week, Gatov Gallery, Long Beach, CA
​
2022 Friends of Friends, Odd Duck Studios, Provo, UT
Black & White Art Exhibition, Grey Cube Gallery
​
2021 Art in the Atrium 20 - A Moment in Time, City Hall, Frisco, TX
San Diego Festival of the Arts, Del Mar, CA
Business Card Art Show, JKR Gallery, Provo, UT
Salvage Shoppe, Denton, TX
Remarque Print Exchange, Albuquerque, NM
The Sketchbook Project, Vol 17, Brooklyn Art Library, Brooklyn, NY
​
2020 Greetings From Lockdown, Gallery of Wonder, Aberystwyth, Wales
Authentic Marks, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
​
2019 Awagami International Miniature Print Exhibition, Tokushima, Japan
Winter Fine Art Show, Yellowstone Teton Gallery, Saint Anthony, ID
Student Art Show, Spori Gallery, Rexburg, ID
Crux, Rexburg, ID
Total Invasion, Rexburg, ID
​
​
AWARDS AND PUBLICATIONS
​
2022 Exhibition Winner in Black & White Art Exhibition
2019 Merit Award in Sculpture in Student Art Show
First Place in Sculpture and Ceramics in Art and the Book of Mormon
Woodcut and intaglio prints published in Outlet Magazine
2018 Sculpture published in Outlet Magazine