From:Williamson Art Gallery and Museum
Name/TitleAmanda and Michael and Barbie
About this objectJohn McDonald has been awarded the 2026 Open Artists’ Photography Prize, for his piece Amanda and Michael and Barbie (rag paper and archival ink). He has a Photography BA from the Central Polytechnic in London. As part of his artistic career, McDonald has frequently worked with underprivileged community groups. This has included working in Speke’s housing estate, an area facing significant socio-economic challenges. In this community, he worked with children who felt disengaged from formal education. To increase access to education and encourage community engagement for young people, he participated in the running of a Mersey Open College network course. This course provided lessons in digital photography, mural painting, silkscreen printing, drama, Photoshop and computer studies.
After working in Mersey Open College, McDonald moved onto a photography project in 2005, which helped form the foundation of his winning photograph. This new undertaking was entitled The Madonna Project, for which he worked with mothers from a post-natal depression group, funded by the Eleanor Rathbone Trust. He initially completed 15 portraits, featuring women from this group and their children. His project began with the intention to photograph the mothers, but upon realising these mothers felt more comfortable being photographed with their children, his work developed in this direction.
The photograph featured in Williamson’s 2026 Open Artists Exhibition, Amanda and Michael and Barbie, places Amanda, the mother, at the centre. She’s holding her child Kaelyn, with her friend Vicky Langley’s daughter Barbie (Ashleigh) in the lower right corner. Set in this domestic interior with a wedding photograph and child’s painting in the background, Amanda appears smiling. Beyond the photograph, McDonald and Amanda worked together, with other mothers on the Mothers of Invention Project, creating a patchwork quilt of children’s clothes. A copy of Amanda’s portrait resides in St Luke’s Bombed Out Church. McDonald will be sharing his earnings from the photograph with Amanda.
MakerMcDonald, John
Maker Roleartist
Date Made2026
Period21st century
Medium and MaterialsPhotographic print
Style and IconographyPortrait
Style and IconographyInterior
Techniquephotographic print
MeasurementsHeight: 30cm
Width: 21cm
Depth: 0.2cm
Subject and Association Keywordshuman
Subject and Association Keywordschildren
Subject and Association Keywordshouse
Subject and Association Keywordsfamily
Credit LineJohn McDonald
Object Typeprint
Object numberBIKGM.9581
Copyright LicenceAll rights reserved
