“Everything Beautiful” by Photographer and Artist Pamela Mackenzie
July’s exhibit at the OLT’s Janigan Studio features local artist and photographer, Pamela Mackenzie, who “loves everything beautiful – whether it is people, nature, man-made or the everyday item that is often overlooked”. Formally trained in the arts, Pamela spent her career as a military officer and civil servant before redirecting her attention fully to the arts in retirement. Pamela’s art reflects her fascination with colour, texture, light and “found” abstractions in the images she creates. However, some of her favorite works are drawn from her recent collection of images from Africa, where the spiritual connections between the lived experience and nature are reflected in her works.
Ricarda McFalls recently caught up with Pamela to learn more about her life and her path to this exhibition.
Were you interested in the arts from a young age? Who or what influenced you? What is your primary or favourite medium?
I have been drawn to art for as long as I can remember. Growing up, my mother encouraged my creativity by holding drawing contests between my brother and me. I went on to obtain a Bachelor of Arts degree with a major in Art History and a minor in Art Studio.
A significant influence on my artistic development was my university professor, Stephen Sumner. He taught me to “look slowly” and discover beauty in the details that others often pass by without noticing. That lesson has stayed with me throughout my life and continues to shape my work today. Whether photographing people, nature, or the built environment, I look for images that reveal themselves slowly: reflections, patterns, and “found” abstractions that transform the familiar into something contemplative. Over the years, I have experimented with many artistic media, but photography has remained my greatest passion.
Have you always lived in Ottawa or what brought you to the city?
No, I haven’t always lived in Ottawa. I was born and raised in upstate New York, and I’m now proud to be a dual citizen of both the United States and Canada.
Love brought me to Ottawa. I met a tall, handsome Canadian, fell in love, and married him. After many years together, we moved to Ottawa in 2010 and made this wonderful city our home. Becoming a Canadian citizen in 2015 was a meaningful milestone and the start of a new chapter in my life.
Over the years, Ottawa has welcomed me with its vibrant arts community, beautiful
neighbourhoods, and kind and hospitable people. I’m truly grateful to call it home.
Have you worked professionally as an artist? If not, what has been your main career (and how has art fit within your life?)
I’ve never worked as a professional artist. My primary career was as an Army Officer and later as a Civil Servant. During my military service, I received training as a photographer, photo lab technician, and aerial reconnaissance and surveillance analyst, which helped develop my visual awareness and technical skills. Although art was never my full-time profession, it remained a constant thread throughout my life. Since retiring, I have been able to focus more fully on painting and abstract photography.
Tell us about this exhibition. Is there a common theme? Is there a favourite work among those being exhibited?
My work is an exploration of seeing—of pausing long enough to notice what is often overlooked. I am interested in the tension between representation and abstraction, and in how a shift in perspective can alter what we think we recognize. The intention of these images is not to confront, but to invite: to encourage a second look, a moment of reflection, a quiet connection.
This exhibition reflects my ongoing exploration of abstract photography, inspired by colour, light, texture, and the quiet beauty of often-overlooked details in nature and everyday life. Many works focus on patterns in tree bark, water reflections, and natural forms that become unexpected abstractions when viewed through a creative lens.
That said, my current favourite photographs are not abstract works at all. I recently returned from a safari in Botswana and South Africa, where I had the extraordinary opportunity to observe wildlife in their natural habitat. The experience was truly life-changing, and the photographs I captured during that journey are especially meaningful to me. Choosing a single favourite is difficult, but the images that best capture the majesty and spirit of Africa hold a special place in my heart because they remind me of an unforgettable adventure and the wonder of seeing these remarkable animals up close.
What is your connection to the Ottawa Little Theatre?
I have been a season ticket holder for many years, so I am delighted for this opportunity to share my work with fellow patrons!
Pamela Mackenzie has generously offered to donate 50 percent of exhibition sales to Ottawa Little Theatre. Thank you, Pamela!