Skip to content

Marguerite Tierney

Marguerite Tierney is an Australian artist and early childhood visual arts educator based in Newcastle, NSW. She co-owns Blackstone Gallery and is known for her whimsical, darkly humorous artworks inspired by children's imagination and dreams.

Table of Contents

Teaching Resources for Marguerite Tierney (paid plans only)

Art Minute

audio-thumbnail
Art Minute: Marguerite Tierney
0:00
/71.88

Title: Marguerite Tierney
Duration: 05:20
Year: 2012
Director/DOP: Peter M Lamont
Music: Peter M Lamont

About Marguerite Tierney

Early Life and Background
Marguerite Tierney is an Australian artist and visual arts educator based in Newcastle, New South Wales. She completed a Bachelor of Contemporary Art from the University of New South Wales, a Diploma of Fine Art, and a Diploma of Primary Education from institutions in Melbourne and Swinburne.

Artistic Development and Education
Tierney's artistic journey has been influenced by her experiences as an early childhood visual arts educator and her personal diagnosis of ADHD. She describes herself as an "obsessive drawer," a trait that has significantly shaped her creative process.

Major Works and Exhibitions
Tierney has exhibited her work in galleries across Newcastle, Maitland, and Melbourne. Notable exhibitions include "A Wolf in My Yard: A Tale of Adaptation" at the Maitland Regional Art Gallery in 2013, and "Mindstate" at Onwards Gallery in 2022. Her collaborations extend to projects with Virgin Australia, the Let Them Eat Cake festival in Melbourne, and a music video for Casey Donovan.

Style and Technique
Tierney's artwork is characterised by a blend of whimsical and dark elements, often described as "cute, surreal, unsettling, and dark." Her pieces frequently feature fantastical scenes populated by obscure characters, reflecting her interest in the imaginative and the surreal.

Legacy and Influence
Marguerite Tierney's work has significantly impacted both the local and broader Australian art scene. Her ability to merge whimsical and surreal elements with deeper, introspective themes resonates with a diverse audience. As a co-owner and curator of Blackstone Gallery, she plays a pivotal role in fostering emerging talent and contributing to Newcastle’s cultural vibrancy. Her commitment to art education and community engagement ensures her influence will continue to inspire future generations of artists.

References

  1. Blackstone Gallery Newcastle
  2. Maitland Regional Art Gallery
  3. Onwards Gallery
  4. Blackstone Gallery Newcastle

Teaching Resources

Latest

12 versions of Jas Shalimar
Art

12 versions of Jas Shalimar

Melbourne artist Jas Shalimar makes watercolours from a thousand fast decisions. Ahead of The Private Theatre at Mars Gallery (twelve self-portraits, one for each of Jung's archetypes) she talks of Beatrix Potter, an Arnott's chair hung from the ceiling, and trying on versions of herself.

Members Public
'Tide of Returns' after repatriation

'Tide of Returns' after repatriation

In Venice, 'Tide of Returns' follows the remarkable journey of Indigenous Australian shell dolls to consider what repatriation means after cultural objects finally come home.

Members Public
Free museums victory for democratic education

Free museums victory for democratic education

As the UK marks 25 years of universal free museum entry, the policy has proved its value beyond rising visitor numbers. It has established access to art, history, and culture as part of public education, open to anyone who walks through the door.

Members Public