Meet the artist - Byrd
Byrd (Dan Maginnity) is a freelance graffiti muralist, painter and sculptor, living and working in Canberra with his small family since completing his Bachelor in Visual Art (ANU, 1998) and Dip Ed (UCAN 2001). He makes commercial and experimental works for gallery exhibitions; commissions for private, corporate and government clients; as well as competing for prize shows and public mural tenders.
Byrd teaches, hosts workshops, curates and mentors; as well as paints and networks with other muralists and artists in Canberra and interstate. He remains passionate about grass-roots and activist arts practice, and the Street Art movement’s history in the local and global contexts. His murals and smaller works can be seen on many public, private and institutional walls all around Canberra and in Europe.
Byrd has been the contracted Street Art Curator for ArtNotApart Festival for 2018/ 2019/ 2020. In recent years, he has also been invited to a number of formal mentorship programs: currently as part of the M16 ant ArtsACT funded Gatherings Program for Indigenous Youth; previously at Belconnen Arts Centre, the ANU, and Arts ACT among others. He has tertiary teaching experience presenting courses at Canberra Institute of Technology, the University of Canberra and the Australian National University.
Byrd’s artworks are held in the collections of The National Gallery of Australia; National Museum of Australia; Canberra Museum and Gallery; The ACT Legislative Assembly; ARTBank; Craft ACT and various private collections locally and in Europe. He has produced work for clients such as The National Portrait Gallery; the National Museum of Australia; Hindmarsh Group; Molonglo Group; SceneTree; LexMerca; ACTEW; SMEC; The City of Sydney; Tumut Shire Council; TAMS ACT; TAFE; WestField; ACT Health; MMJ Real Estate; Hyperdome; TedNoffs Foundation; Thylacine; Canberra Centre; ICON Water; COX Architects; Greening Australia; Hyatt; as well as several Canberra Hairdressing Salons, Cafés and other small businesses.
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