MACKOMICS STUDIO
Liza MacKinnon
Liza MacKinnon is an award winning mixed-media artist and arts educator with 15+ years of experience in teaching, commissions and exhibited artwork. She specializes in detailed paper costumes and creates in-depth studies of women in history. Liza is based in Lawrence, KS and teaches around the country.
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ARTIST STATEMENT
I love the challenge of telling a story and sharing my values through the limited medium of historic costumes fashioned from paper. These sculptures contain layers of meaning and messages through the materials chosen. Whether my pieces speak of LGBTQA+ rights, our oligarchical military complex nation or illuminating astounding women from history; recycled books, maps, letters and photos merge to reveal complex stories and history. Each dress provides a beautiful silhouette from a distance and then reveals covert details up close.
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My paper costumes are a natural extension of lifetime spent illustrating, painting and making prints of historic garments.
These paper garments, which can take weeks to complete, are made relevant by the materials included. I enjoy surprising the viewer, either with the trompe l’oeil of paper masquerading as fabric, or with thought provoking materials such as making Ophelia from Hamlet out of pages from the DSM IV or nudging the conversation by creating a Marie Antoinette made of 1040 tax forms and US currency. Although the parameters are limited, the possibilities are endless as I combine statements about my values with my obsession with historical clothing.
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Paper garments now on offer at the Bainbridge Island Museum of Art Museum Store, The Salina Arts Center, and The Phoenix Gallery in downtown Lawrence KS
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Embroidered postcards available at Edition ONE Gallery on Canyon Road, Santa Fe, NM
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Exhibition History
2025 Solo Show, Thread, Paper Dresses, Salina Public Library, Salina, KS
2025 Solo Show, Fairy Tale Forest, Phoenix Gallery, Lawrence, KS
2024 Juried Exhibition, 8 x 8, Lawrence Arts Center, Lawrence, KS
2024 Group Show, Salon de Historia, Acequia Madre House, Santa Fe, NM
2024 Group Show, Inhabiting Georgia O’Keeffe, Fayman Gallery, Lawrence, KS
2024 Featured Artist, Art Spaces, Art Emergency, Lawrence, KS
2024-2025 Group Shows, seasonal, Art Emergency, Lawrence, KS
2024 Invitational Show, A Waltz with Paper, Landmark Bank, Lawrence, KS
2023 Two-Person Show, And I saw this in Dreams, Edition ONE Gallery, Santa Fe, NM
with Alexandra Eldridge
2023 Two-person Show, Crowns, Theatre Lawrence with Maria Martin
2023 Group Show, Lawrence Art Guild all Members Show at the Lawrence Arts Center
2023 Two-person Show, Women’s Work, Volland Gallery, Alma KS with Shin-hee Chin
2023 Group Show, Thread Paper Dresses, Art Santa Fe, Santa Fe NM Convention Center
2022-2023 Two-person Show, Couture at the Chamber, Lawrence Chamber of Commerce
2022 Two-person Show, Poppies in Winter, S&S Artisan Pub, Lawrence, KS with Maria Martin
2022 Solo Show, The High Plains meet the Southwest, Black Stag Brewery, Lawrence, KS
2022 Group Show, Lawrence Art Guild group show, Landmark Bank, Lawrence, KS
2022 Group Show, Lawrence Public Library Staff Spring Exhibit, Lawrence, KS
2022 Solo Show, Thread Paper Dresses, Downtown Subscription, Santa Fe, NM
2022 Two-person Show, Dance of a Small Planet, Jemez Fine Arts Gallery, Jemez Springs, NM,
with Jim Forcier-Call
2022 Three-person Show, The View from Here, Lincoln Arts Center, Lincoln, KS,
with Maria Martin and Marty Olson
2022 Solo Show, Fashioned from Paper, Grassroots Art Center, Lucas KS
2022 Solo Show, Collected Stories, Theatre Lawrence, Lawrence KS
2021 Two-Person Show, Words with Wings, Jemez Fine Arts Gallery, Jemez Springs, NM,
with Jim Forcier-Call
2021 Juried Group Show, Kansas 2021, Topeka Art Guild Gallery, Topeka, KS, First Prize
2021 Juried Group Show, Boundaries, Women Made Gallery, Chicago, IL
2021-2022 Juried Group Show, Bound and Unbound IV, University Libraries,
University of South Dakota, Vermillion, SD
2021 Solo Show, A Kansas Childhood, Lawrence Public Library, Lawrence KS
2021 Juried Group Show, Women in Art 2021, Las Lagunas Art Gallery, Laguna, CA
2021 Juried Group Show, Her Art, Their Art, InterUrban Art House, Overland Park, KS
2020 Group Show, Jones Art Gallery, Kansas City, MO
2020-2022 Group Show, 25-Year Retrospective, Grassroots Arts Center, Lucas, KS
2019-2025 Group Shows, Holiday Art Fair, Cider Gallery, Lawrence, KS
2019 Solo Show, Formidable Women, Lawrence Percolator, Lawrence, KS
2019-2025 Group Shows, Lawrence Art Guild All Member show, Cider Art Gallery Lawrence, KS
2018 Solo Exhibition, Blooming Figures, North Park Center, Dallas, TX
2017 Two-Person Show, Backstage at the Globe, Jemez Fine Arts Gallery, Jemez Springs, NM
2008-2023 Group Shows, Bizarre Bazaar, Lawrence Arts Center, Lawrence, KS
2012-2025 Group Shows, Annual Benefit Auction, Lawrence Arts Center, Lawrence, KS
2010-2021 Group Shows, The Love Show, Lawrence Percolator, Lawrence, KS
Arts Educator
2025 Workshop at Edition ONE Gallery, Santa Fe NM
2025 Visiting Artist at Artisan Santa Fe, NM
2024-2025 Visiting Artist at Two Hands Paperie, Boulder Co
2024-2025 Various mixed media workshops for adults; Paper and Friends
2011-2023 Various mixed media workshops for adults, Lawrence Public Library
2010-2018 Bookbinding Instructor for the Lawrence Arts Center
2010-2018 Various classes and workshops for adults, teens and children, Lawrence Arts Center
Public Artist
2025 Panelist, What Works Workshop with Mid-America Art Alliance and the Lawrence Public Library
2025 Artist talk and Q/A with Lawrence PEO
2024 Artist talk, and Q/A Lawrence Public Library Retroactive Club
2023 Artist Talk and panel, Volland Gallery
2022 Workshop and Artist Talk, Grassroots Art Center
2022, 2021, 2025 Workshops, Jemez Springs Public Library
2019 Workshop and Artist Talk, Lawrence Percolator
2018 Workshop and Artist Talk, Dallas Area Fiber Artists Guild 2018
2013-2019 Featured Artist, Phoenix Gallery January Final Fridays
2012-2014 Demonstrating Artist, Lawrence Public Library festivals
2011 Demonstrating Artist, University of Kansas Avenue of the Arts
2010 Artist Talk, Lawrence Art Guild
Non-profit Collaboration,
2019-2020 Member of Yarn it Forward, East Ninth Street Artist Project Grant
2011-2023 Member of the organizing committee for Bizarre Bazaar
Giving to the Community
2025 Haskell Endowment Benefit donation
2025 Donation of materials and time to the Valentines for Meals on Wheels Project
2024 Capstone project facilitator, Santa Fe Prep Senior students
2022-2025 City of Lawrence Transient Guest Tax Program Board Member
2022 Artwork donation to the NM Library Foundation
2021, 2022 Artwork donation to the Lawrence Public Library’s Kid’s Action Committee
2021 Artwork donation to the Jemez Springs Public Library
2021 Artwork proceeds donation to the Percolator Art Space
2021, 2022 Artwork donations to the Bodhi Manda Zen Center Benefit Auction
2020 Artwork donations to the Lawrence Yarn it Forward
2017 Artwork donations to the Lawrence Festival of Trees
2012-2025 Artwork donations to the Lawrence Arts Center Benefit Auction
2011 Public Art workshops at the Percolator Art Space
2010 Public Arts and Crafts tables for children for the South Mass Arts Guild
2011 Public Earth Day Arts and Crafts tables for the Lawrence Arts Guild
2008-2013 Public Valentines making parties
Press
2017, 2022 Lawrence Magazine
2021 The Makers Story, New Zealand magazine
2021, 2016, 2015, 2010 Lawrence Journal World
2012 Lawrence.com
Affiliations
John Talleur Printmaking Studio
Lawrence Art Guild
Santa Fe Arts Club
IATSE Theatrical Wardrobe Union
Graphic Artist Guild
Topeka Arts Guild
Residency
2025 Residency at Mission Street Arts, Jemez Springs, NM
2024 Fellowship in Residence at the Acequia Madre House, Women’s International Study Center,
Santa Fe NM
Education
1987 BA Geography, University of Colorado at Boulder
IN THE NEWS
Recent Updates & Headlines
60 YEARS OF ART, A DIAMOND IN THE COMMUNITIE'S CULTURAL SCENE
Summer 2022
Images on pages 7, 40 and 42 Write up in the Lawrence Magazine.
Paper and cotton might not seem like the likely recipe for stitching together a dress, but for
this artist it is exactly the two things she needs.
Artist feature - Liza MacKinnon
Issue Two 2021
June 2021
Art exhibit quietly maps the achievements of Kansas women who ‘lived good lives’
Click to pages 14/15 and 30/31. Write up in the Lawrence Magazine.
Summer 2017
LOCAL ARTIST MAKES MORE THAN GREETING CARDS
PERCOLATOR LOVE SHOW
Winter 2016
FAQ
How do I get started ordering a paper garment?
Please send me an email: Liza@mackomics.com to start the conversation. I have created an easy pictured filled form that will help organize your ideas. For hanging garments, think about what pattern you like (browse instagram: @liza.mackinnon), then what materials you'd like to incorporate. We can collaborate and make a unique piece just for you. I do not recreate artwork, but can incorporate elements you admire from existing works.
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How long does it take to make a paper garment?
It all depends on the size and customizations! The actual time in production (after research and materials acquisition) would be two days for a doll-sized dress, 1 week for toddler-sized dress and two-three weeks for a 3 foot tall 3d dress. Paper fascinators would be 1 week, large scale sunflowers take two-three weeks. These are estimates and actual time to complete will be calculated based on current orders.
Can you ship your paper garments?
Yes, for all flat, wall hanging garments and fascinators, I can ship within the US for less than $50 on USPS. The three foot 3d dresses could run up to $400 to ship and are generally purchased locally (Lawrence, KS) or in NM during my annual visit.
Can your paper garments be worn?
No, these pieces are purely sculptural, to be enjoyed as an object d'art.
Can you make a paper garment out of anything?
Almost! I've printed copies of family photos, cut up books, used sheet music and of course maps. Some paper sources are so old and fragile that I can not incorporate, but most paper ephemera can be used in design of paper garments.
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What do your paper garments cost?
2025 prices are toddler - $200 and doll - $160. Large-scale garments are priced individually.