Marilyn has been drawing and painting since the age of twelve. Originally trained as a teacher, she discovered very young in life that her greatest passion lies in art.
Marilyn believes that drawing is the basis of all good work. A devoted artist since the 1970s Marilyn was at first in Tauranga, then a shift to Picton, and finally worked from her own studio in the Arts Centre of Christchurch before the 2011 earthquake. The earthquake necessitated a shift to Hamilton to live nearer to her children and the setting up of the Marilyn Rea-Menzies Arts Studio in Hamilton East.
Marilyn’s tapestries adorn many public spaces and private homes both in New Zealand and overseas. Her lively tapestry portraits have won the hearts, as well as tears of many. Her latest public tapestry commission was the double-sided Kowhai screen at Government House in Wellington.
Marilyn also paints, draws and has produced a large amount of work in mixed-medium, including photography. Some of her digital artworks, drawings, paintings and tapestries have been exhibited in solo exhibitions at the Centre of Contemporary Art in Christchurch. She has twice been a finalist in the Anthony Harper Awards there.
Marilyn is currently working from her Arts Studio in Hamilton East and has dedicated herself to creating art in various formats, with her head, heart and hands.
Contact Marilyn