Mark Vazquez-Mackay MFA
Since completing his education in Canada and Mexico, Mark has been developing himself as a visual artist, educator, and cultural worker.
Mark’s studio practice is highly exploratory. At times, he is driven by material experimentation, other times he is driven by conceptual research and questioning. The direction of his work is always informed by the context he is living and what is influencing his ideas.
As an educator, Mark has worked with a diversity of populations from post-secondary students to therapy patients to marginalized peoples. His broad experience has helped him develop into a well rounded educator who is able to work with all people in sharing his love for art. Currently much of Mark’s time is spent mentoring practicing artist from around the world.
A large part of Mark’s practice is spent developing the creative community. Whether he is leading community mural projects, giving lectures, leading groups of learners on art retreats, or contributing to non-profit art organizations, Mark believes in giving back to the community to help it grow and share his vast knowledge.
EDUCATION
2002-2004 MFA, Instituto Allende, San Miguel de Allende, GTO, Mexico
1997-2002 BFA, Alberta Collage of Art & Design, Calgary, AB, Canada
EMPLOYMENT
2005-Present Painting/Drawing instructor, Continuing Education, AU Arts, Calgary, AB
2018-Present Art Therapy Program Instructor & Developer, Wellspring, Calgary, AB
2019-Present Owner, Operator, and Mentor, Studio Vazquez-Mackay
2015-2022 Art Residency Instructor, Calgary Board of Education, Calgary, AB
2016-Present Developer, Operator, Instructor, & Tour Guide, Studio Vazquez-Mackay: Art-Travel-Education, Canada & Mexico
2014-2020 Curator/Owner, Tinier Gallery, Calgary, AB
2013-2017 Art Therapy Program Instructor & Developer, Tom Baker Cancer Centre, Calgary, AB
2013-2016 Developer & Operator, Draw Till You Drop Drawing Marathon, Calgary, AB
2003 Art Instructor, Instituto Allende, San Miguel de Allende, Mexico
VOLUNTEER
2016-2022 Art Programmer for New Canadians, Calgary Catholic Immigration Society, Calgary, AB
2017-2020 Director, CARFAC Alberta, AB
SELECTED SOLO & TWO-PERSON EXHIBITIONS
2025 Rinconcitos de Mexico, Etra Galeria, Monterrey, Mexico
2024 Paisajes Salvadoreños, Embajada de El Salvador, CDMX, Mexico
2022 Tower Migration, Studio Vazquez-Mackay, Calgary, Canada
2018 Artwork: Five Years in Reflection, Artpoint Main Gallery, Calgary, Canada
2018 Two Cultural Perspectives, One Alberta Landscape, Studio C, Calgary, Canada
2016 Traveling Sketchbook, Rumble House, Calgary, Canada
2015 Caroline Motion Painting, Studio C, Calgary, Canada
2015 Don’t Look, Rumble House, Calgary, Canada
2004 Desnudos al Aceite, El Atrio, Guanajuato, Mexico
SELECTED GROUP EXHIBITIONS
2025 Immortal art fair, Bureau of Queer Art, CDMX, Mexico
2025 You are invited, The Isle of Roux, Calgary, Canada
2025 Tzompantli, Pocket Gallery, CDMX, Mexico
2025 Apuntes Al Desnudo, Centro Cultural Xavir Villaurrutia, CDMX, Mexico
2025 Bureau of Queer Art, Casa de Cultura Emilio Carballido, CDMX, Mexico
2025 CLAVO art fair, CDMX, Mexico
2024 Hablemos Cacahuate, Tact Design, Mérida, Mexico
2018 Sixteen Painters, Dawit/Maldonado Studios, San Miguel de Allende, Mexico
2015 Baby Jesus, Christine Klassen Gallery, Calgary, AB
2013 Art Rise, Art Gallery of Calgary, Calgary, AB
2012 Ménage à Trois, Art Central, Calgary, AB
PUBLIC WORKS
2018 Longest Mural in Canada, Coventry Hills Blvd. NE, Calgary, AB
2016 History of the Land Mural, Queensland community centre, Calgary, AB
AWARDS & RESIDENCIES
2016-2020 Willow Park School residency, Calgary Board of Education, Calgary, AB
2019 Alumni Legacy Award, Alberta University of the Arts, Calgary, AB
2017 CARFAC National Arts Advocacy Award, Canada
PUBLICATIONS
2018 Quiroz, Ana, Sixteen Painters in Memorial Exhibition, Atencion, Jan. 5, p.44
White, Richard, Good Artistic Fences Make Good Neighbours, Calgary Herald, p.G3, Oct. 20
2016 Raddatz, Jonathan, Mark Vazquez-Mackay: Objective Subjective Portraiture and Other Painterly Paradoxes,
Exhibeo, Selected Art Reviews, Vol.1, p.104-109, 2016
DONATIONS
2019 Splash of Red HIV community link
2018 Bow Vally College permanent collection
2016 Forces At Work art fundraiser
PROFESIONAL TALKS & LECTURES
2024 Career talk, Feria de libros-Universidad Autónoma de Coahuila. Saltillo, Mexico
2017 Being an Artist, Art Enabled Life Film Project
2017 How to become a Professional Artist in Calgary, CARFAC, Calgary, AB
2016 Canadian Connections, Professional Development for Newcomer Artists, CARFAC, Calgary, AB
JURY WORK
2015-2021 Jury member, New Comers Award, Mayor’s Lunch for Arts Champions, Calgary, AB
2014 Jury member, Forest Lawn Granting Program, Calgary Arts Development, Calgary, AB
SELECTED COLLECTIONS
Universidad Autónoma de Coahuila. Saltillo, Mexico
National Defence Headquarters of Canada, Ottawa, Canada
Audrey Luft, Edmonton, Canada
Werklund Centre (former Arts Commons), Calgary, Canada
NOTABLE AWARDS
2019 Alberta University of the Arts: Alumni Legacy Award
2017 CARFAC: National Arts Advocacy Award
Testimonials
Mark has been an invaluable mentor. He leads with his experience and quietly builds up everyone around him. His passion for creating an arts community in Calgary cannot go unnoticed. Mark has a vast knowledge of art history, and will often pull a book from his collection and offer me a perspective I didn’t know I needed. He is excellent at creating space for exploration, but is always there with concrete next steps and has pushed me to do more than I thought possible. He is skilled in many arenas, including drawing, animation, and mixed media, and he has inspired me to take up oils, which has altered my creative trajectory significantly. I have taken several of his courses and expanded my own repertoire of skills. Anyone who meets Mark will marvel at whatever he is currently creating and immediately pick up on his passion and generosity as an artist. He is kind and introspective. I highly recommend that you spend time in Mark’s studio, and if you’re lucky, in his guidance.
-Shelina K
Mark creates experiences that nudge even the most tentative toward a more confident place. He has a way of going that is always encouraging, and never patronizing. Mark helps people to find their genius. He is truly a gift.
-Katie T