Anne MacDonald received her Bachelor of Fine Arts and Masters of Fine Arts from the Tasmanian School of Art at the University of Tasmania, where she is now a Senior Lecturer in the Photography Department.
Anne has been practicing and exhibiting as an artist since the 1980’s and has held many solo exhibitions at contemporary art spaces and commercial galleries throughout Australia and internationally.
Anne MacDonald endeavours to represent the unrepresentable – death itself. Her photographic series and installations are symbolic distillations of death, eliciting the presence of beauty in objects reminiscent of the body and mortality.
Working exclusively in the studio with a large format camera, MacDonald’s photographs explore the emotional anxieties created in the counterpoise between beauty, opulence, femininity and the erotic on the one hand, and fragility, death, decay and dissolution on the other. Her subjects are fixed – virtually embalmed – through the photographic process, and thus raise the inevitable connection between photography and death.
Her work can be found in public and private collections including the: the National Gallery of Australia, the University of Tasmania, Art Bank, the Art Gallery of South Australia, the Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery, the Art Gallery of Western Australia, the Gold Coast City Art Gallery and the ANZ collection.
Text courtesy Artereal Gallery.

A respected voice in contemporary art discourse.
Focusing on ambitious storytelling and insightful art-world commentary. Ocula Magazine publishes in-depth interviews, critical essays and timely analysis on the artists, exhibitions and ideas driving the global art world.
Learn more about Ocula Magazine
Showcasing the best of the art world.
Ocula partners with galleries from around the world to highlight their artists, artworks and exhibitions. Gallery membership is by application and invitation, with each member vetted by an independent panel.
Learn more about Ocula Membership
Specialises in the sale of major artworks.
Led by a team with deep ties to the world’s leading auction houses, galleries and collectors. Ocula’s advisory team offers bespoke services to high-net-worth clients from around the world who are looking to acquire the best of contemporary and modern art.
Learn more about our team and services