Breaking the Blocks

The Art of Resilience: Mackenzie Thorpe's Creative Journey


Listen Later

Mackenzie Thorpe shares his extraordinary journey from a dyslexic child in working-class Middlesbrough to a globally celebrated artist whose work touches hearts worldwide.

• Born with an innate urge to draw on anything available—stones, cigarette packets, fireplace ashes
• Struggled with undiagnosed dyslexia at school, describing himself as "word blind" rather than seeing jumbled letters
• Found escape through art, developing a three-dimensional thinking ability that compensated for traditional learning challenges
• Created his iconic square sheep series after a car accident in 1990, representing his family and his role as protector
• Gained international recognition when Salvador Dali's former manager discovered his work and introduced it to global audiences
• Balances creating joyful, whimsical art that's commercially successful while privately producing darker works that express his personal struggles
• Maintains a mission to encourage others to embrace their creativity despite obstacles or discouragement
• Met Queen Elizabeth II to present a commissioned Jubilee painting depicting the Northeast's resilience and celebration
• Lives by Van Gogh's motto: "If you can't go to work, go to work"


You can follow Mackenzie on Instagram: @artistmackenzie

His website is: www.mackenziethorpe.com

If you have enjoyed this podcast, please tell a friend about it, leave a review, or reach out to Rachel at breakingtheblocks.com if you're a business interested in sponsorship.


Want to reach out? Suggest a guest? Drop us a text!

Support the show

...more
View all episodesView all episodes
Download on the App Store

Breaking the BlocksBy Rachel Pierman

  • 5
  • 5
  • 5
  • 5
  • 5

5

14 ratings


More shows like Breaking the Blocks

View all
Seamwork Radio: Sewing and Creativity by Seamwork

Seamwork Radio: Sewing and Creativity

716 Listeners

Next Question with Katie Couric by iHeartPodcasts

Next Question with Katie Couric

4,905 Listeners

Love to Sew Podcast by Caroline Somos & Helen Wilkinson : Sewing Enthusiasts and Entrepreneurs

Love to Sew Podcast

1,067 Listeners

A Quilter's Life by Paula Chamberlain

A Quilter's Life

34 Listeners

The Long Thread Podcast by Long Thread Media

The Long Thread Podcast

196 Listeners

A Quilting Life Podcast by Sherri McConnell & Chelsi Stratton

A Quilting Life Podcast

323 Listeners

Haptic & Hue by Jo Andrews

Haptic & Hue

294 Listeners

The Quilter on Fire Podcast by Brandy

The Quilter on Fire Podcast

193 Listeners

Check Your Thread: Sewing More Sustainably by Zoe Edwards

Check Your Thread: Sewing More Sustainably

87 Listeners

Not Your Granny's Quilt Show by Amanda Oros

Not Your Granny's Quilt Show

48 Listeners

Quilting...for the Rest of Us by Sandy Hasenauer

Quilting...for the Rest of Us

19 Listeners

Inappropriate Quilters by Leslie and Rochelle

Inappropriate Quilters

349 Listeners

All There Is with Anderson Cooper by CNN

All There Is with Anderson Cooper

9,533 Listeners

Quilting on the Side by Andi Stanfield and Tori McElwain

Quilting on the Side

18 Listeners

The Oprah Podcast by Harpo

The Oprah Podcast

1,371 Listeners