Marc Blake’s practice has increasingly unified around an open response to his environment and experiences, primarily painting-driven, yet moving beyond any singular process, or technique. Since the early 2000s, Blake’s parallel exploration of painting, photography, and digital imagery has evolved, with each of these mediums now interwoven and re-examined in his current work. Rather than focusing on "how" or "why" a piece is created, Blake often reflects on the "when"—the significance of creating and presenting a particular work at this moment in time.
Blake describes his approach as an attempt to “organise and distil the increasingly overwhelming amount of information encountered in life—our personal experiences, collective cultural and societal existence, and the vast visual and historical record.” His work seeks to express both personal and universal connections, capturing experiences that shift in meaning with different contexts and perspectives. This intention underscores his practice as he navigates ways to express how he and ultimately his audience, fit into these unique and shared narratives.
Early in his career, Blake gained recognition for his distinctive painting style, informed by a lifelong East Asian influence and the five years he spent in Japan after graduating from Auckland University. Over time, this has increasingly shifted towards an examination of painting itself and a more process-driven approach, increasingly integrating digital and photographic elements, as well as exploring photography as an independent medium in its own right.
Marc has been a recipient of and multiple finalist in several national awards, including winning the Supreme Award at the 2023 Craigs Aspiring Art Prize. Living in Japan from 2002-2006, Marc completed a studio residency and exhibition at BankART NYK Yokohama, as well as exhibiting at Arts Council Koganecho and the Kyoto Cultural Museum. His work has also been shown at the Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki and The Dowse Art Museum. Recent solo exhibitions include “On Canvas”, Aotearoa Art Fair (2023), ‘Like Pleasures of the World”, Alexandra Museum (2023) and “Alta”, Te Atamira, forthcoming in March 2025. Marc’s work is held in numerous collections in New Zealand and abroad, including the Craigs Investment Partners collection and 16 works held in the Arts House Trust collection.
A strong advocate for art as a unifying force that transforms and unites communities and fosters cultural discourse, Marc is well known for his curatorial projects and independently creating groundbreaking opportunities and uniting visual artists and audiences in the Queenstown Lakes District.