Artist In Residence
The Mackie Lake House Artist in Residence Program provides Canadian artists with a unique opportunity for solitude, creativity, and inspiration.
About the Program
The Mackie Lake House Foundation Artist in Residence Program is a collaborative partnership between Mackie Lake House Foundation and Vernon Public Art Gallery (VPAG).
The Artist in Residence Program is made possible through the generosity of Patrick (Paddy) Fylton Mackie who established and funded the Mackie Lake House Foundation. Paddy was a patron of the arts and a gifted artist in his own right. The Artist in Residence Program was established in his memory.
Current Artist in Residence – Marzieh Homayoun
Marzieh is a migrant artist from Iran, and her cultural roots have a profound impact on her work. Inspired by the delicacy of Persian miniature painting, she strives to preserve the subtlety and spirit of her heritage through her own perspective in her art.
As a visual artist, she works mostly with ink, paper, and metal nib pen. She started her art journey in 2000 with portrait and live drawing. For many years, she focused on the human figure and still life. Over time, her attention turned toward nature not just how it looks, but how it feels and survives.
In her current work, she blends natural forms like stones, tree bark, and animal shapes. These drawings are not realistic; they are imaginary spaces where different elements of nature meet, struggle, and live together. She is interested in the quiet tension inside the natural world, its strength, its fragility, and its constant change.
Migration has deeply shaped her way of seeing. Leaving home and starting again in a new place filled her with questions about identity, memory, and what it means to belong. She found that art became her voice, a soft whisper when words were not enough. It helped her hold onto feelings, moments, and stories she didn’t want to lose.
Now, Marzieh sees her art as a quiet form of storytelling. Each line is like a thread connecting my past and present. She tries to create work that feels honest, gentle, and full of life. Her drawings invite viewers to slow down, to look closely, and to feel the small, often unnoticed beauty in the world around us.
Residency dates: July 2 to September 2, 2025
During Marzieh’s time at Mackie Lake House, she plans to create a new series of drawings using ink and metal nib pen.
“This project is about slowing down, paying attention, and finding meaning in details. I believe Mackie Lake House with its history, beauty, and stillness is the perfect place to do just that,” says Marzieh.
The Vernon Public Art Gallery will be presenting Marzieh’s work created during her time at the Mackie Lake House at their gallery this winter. Stay tuned for more exhibition details.
Exhibition dates: October 2 to December 22, 2025
For inquiries about the Artist in Residence Program, please contact mackiehouseassistant@gmail.com.