Bruce Mahalski

Biography

Artist, Activist and Museum Director

As well as being a practicing artist, Mahalski is also the director of The Dunedin Museum of Natural Mystery in Dunedin which contains his large collection of skulls, ethnological art and interesting local historical ephemera.

It also has a gallery where people can buy his trademark bone sculptures as well as paintings, prints, masks and books which are also produced by the artist.

2022

Supreme World of Wearable Art (WOW) Award Runner-up and Aotearoa Section Winner

In collaboration with Wellington artist, Fifi Colston 

2021

Solo-show ‘Seeds of Life’

At the Forrester Gallery in Oamaru

2020

Documentary ‘The Dunedin Museum of Natural Mystery’

By film maker, Declan Wong

2018

‘Seeds of Life' - A book about Mahalski's art

Written by Craig Hilton and Mahalski, published by Rim Books

2018

The Dunedin Museum of Natural Mystery opens

Mahalski’s collection of skulls and ethnological art and a gallery full of his bone sculptures

2014/16

Bone art exhibitions

At the New Zealand Art Show in Wellington and Paul Nache Gallery in Gisborne

2013

Well known art collector, James Wallace

Purchases the second bone machine gun after significant internet exposure 

2010

First full exhibition of bone sculptures

Part of the ‘Environmental’ show at Exhibitions Gallery in Wellington

2003

First bone sculpture is created

For the ‘Full Spectrum Dominance’ exhibition at the Mary Newton Gallery, Wellington

The Bone Art of Bruce Mahalski

Our modern concept of beauty is both biologically and culturally determined.

Unknown 2 368 45
Life-size portrait bust of a warrior with spines on head from a Snapper

Kiribati Warrior 2014

Ovis Dei 147
Bust with the face of a young woman made from crushed bone (rear view)

Oves Dei 2015

Unknown 368 46
Life size bust with the face made from the skulls of two very large snapper

Te Hopu 2017

Bruce Mahalski

Bruce Mahalski

Some people might consider it ghoulish to collect bits of dead animals but to me it isn’t about death – it’s about life.