Name

Margaret Mackean-Taylor

Culture

Aotearoa New Zealander | Australian | English

Gender

Female

Birth date

1935

Birth place

England View on map Close map

Movements

Australia 1963- 1982, Aotearoa New Zealand from 1982

Occupations

Art administrator | Art curator

Context

Aotearoa New Zealand | Australia

Biography

Margaret McKean studied at the Bath Academy of Art, and at the Courtauld Institute of Art, University of London. Her family moved to Tasmania where she was appointed Curator at Queen Victoria Museum and Art Gallery, Launceston, Tasmania 1963-68. She was hand-picked by James Mollison to take over his position as Director of the Ballarat Fine Art Gallery when he was appointed to Canberra. Before taking up the position McKean undertook a six moth cadetship at the Victoria and Albert Museum, London studying latest developments in Registration and Conservation. McKean was Director of the Ballarat Fine Art Gallery 1968-72. In 1973 she was appointed to Canberra to assist Mollison in establishing the fledgling National Gallery of Australia. Here she was a mentor to young staff, particularly in regard to Registration and Conservation as well as fulfilling Curatorial role. In 1982 she moved to Aotearoa New Zealand where she was Director of the Manawatu Art Gallery, Palmerston North, until she retired in 1987,

Last Updated

26 Mar 2025