Mackenzie Bedford
Mackenzie Bedford is obsessed with colour, light and movement. They believe the universe, by nature, is mysterious and queer. In awe of its cosmic sublime, they turn to it for inspiration. Their tools for exploration involve animation, projection, installation and public art.
Visual influences stem from growing up as a closeted queer kid in a small town, using an early 2000s internet connection to connect, explore and escape. Unsurprisingly, they still find themselves chronically online.
Self-taught in projection mapping, Bedford has pursued the medium since participating in the cSPACE Artist Incubator in 2021. Since then, they have collaborated with creators in theatre, dance, and music to blend projection and performance in a variety of settings. They also create their own installations with projection, offering contemplative or celebratory spaces for audiences to engage with.
To find more projection mapping friends in Calgary, Bedford created MAPPERZ, a projection mapping club in 2022. Enjoying 250 Instagram followers and 50 newsletter subscribers after a year of its inception, this small but mighty community is making its mark on walls and windows in the city.
Other ways to find Bedford: animating an independent sci fi short; painting murals across Alberta; or at their local market offering hand-printed prints and apparel.
Their work has been featured locally in Beakerhead, Particle + Wave, and BUMP.
