Auckland art gallery mccahon. Mccahons art career had a. Mccahons geographical shift north brought about a change in the focus of his art from the human figure and grandeur of southern landscapes to his more local environment. Mccahon assisted in the professionalisation of the gallery and the first exhibitions and publications to record a new zealand art history.
Auckland art gallery toi o tamaki is the largest art institution in new zealand with a collection numbering over 15000 works. From biblical paintings to mountainous landscapes the influential artist colin mccahons inspirations span far and wide yet remain rooted in rich new zealand soil. In may 1953 the family moved to auckland where mccahon began work at the auckland city art gallery and they bought a house in titirangi.
Recently i had the rare pleasure of going behind the scenes at auckland art gallery with the staff of the conservation research centre sarah hillary and annette mckone and the current marylyn mayo intern eleanor vallier to see the efforts being made to preserve and as far as possible restore colin mccahons fabled painted glass windows from the former convent in upland road remuera chapel of the sisters of our lady of the missions since converted to a private dwelling. Utilising photographs ephemera and publications from auckland art gallerys e h mccormick research library the archive exhibition takes visitors closer inside mccahons days as a curator teacher and artist as he moves from a career at auckland city art gallery to lecturing at elam school of fine arts before becoming a full time painter in the early 1970s. Auckland art gallery toi o tamaki is the largest art institution in new zealand with a collection numbering over 15000 works.
In august 1964 mccahon resigned from the auckland city art gallery and began lecturing at the university of aucklands elam school of fine arts where he remained for six years influencing a generation of artists including richard killeen robin white and ian scott. Colin mccahon moved to auckland from christchurch in may 1953 to begin work at auckland city art gallery. Colin mccahon is so special to new zealand and is perhaps the most significant pakeha artist ever auckland art gallerys director kirsten paisley told 1 news.
A Place To Paint Colin Mccahon In Auckland Opens Saturday 10 August At Auckland Art Gallery Auckland Art Gallery
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