Disillusion self portrait

Born in Carlton, Victoria, Mary MacQueen had a love for drawing from

early childhood. Throughout her creative life she specialised in open

line drawing, lithography and mixed media techniques on paper. Despite

studying under William Dargie at Swinburne Technical College, and later

George Bell, whose methods were grounded in the formal principles of

design, MacQueen developed a visual language of spontaneous expressive

marks. Her oeuvre is characterised by minimal sweeping lines and

gestural, quickly drawn responses to the world around her that often

depict birds, animals and suburban landscapes. Throughout her practice,

the tension between her life as an artist and her domestic role was

often a source of frustration. Disillusion self portrait

suggestively speaks to this inner turmoil. A charcoal sketch of the

artist’s face is collaged over a bright pastel drawing of her upper

body, evoking a sense of separation between the emotional and rational

self.

Collection: National Portrait Gallery
Gift of Robin MacQueen 2007
© Estate of Mary MacQueen