“Do you enjoy paintings that make you think? I like to create work that alludes to a space, form or place (or even a feeling) but is not distinct. Like a fragment of memory. A painting that allows you to ‘see things’.”
ABOUT ME AND MY WORK
Hello! I'm an abstract artist living in a peaceful part of Wellington, New Zealand, nestled beside a native bush reserve where birdsong serves as my creative backdrop. When I'm not immersed in art, you'll find me getting my hands dirty in the garden or braving the gusts while walking up steep hills.
I strive to create artworks that invite you to contemplate and interpret your own narratives. With a background in industrial design and a family full of architects, I draw inspiration from the structural elements and geometric forms found in the built environment.
My abstract paintings are an exploration of the interplay between shadows, three-dimensional forms, and the world around us. They’re not representational - they capture the essence of places and forms, offering suggestive glimpses into abstracted landscapes.
Shadows are the silent accomplices to nature’s sunlight, interacting with man-made objects, providing us with visual cues that enhance our perception of the world. They’re dynamic entities that shape and transform the environment. Shadows move, and create depth, texture, and sometimes an element of intrigue. That’s what I aim to capture with my paintings.
As my art evolves, one thing remains constant: my inclination toward precision. It’s definitely a hangover from my previous profession. It reflects my personality, characterised by a bit of contradiction, and a need of feeling in control!
Biography
After graduating as an Industrial Designer Amanda worked in NZ and the UK designing products for international companies, eventually returning to NZ to raise a family. Here she began painting and exploring adding an aspect of three dimensionality to her artwork, continuing her interest in form and detail.
Her work has been shortlisted for the Molly Morpeth Canaday Award, the Parkin Prize and NZ Painting and Printmaking Award. She has exhibited in NZ, Australia and the UK, and her work hangs on walls in various countries around the world.
You can find me on instagram but the best way to never miss out is to join my mailing list.
Exhibitions
On now:
Wellington Regional Arts Review 2024 - Finalists exhibition, Whirinaki Whare Taonga, Upper Hutt, 7 September - 17 November 2024
Waiheke Art Award 2024 - Finalists exhibition, Waiheke Art Gallery, Waiheke, Auckland, 18 October - 8 December 2024
2024
What you see is what you see - 4-person exhibition at Quiet Dog Gallery, Nelson
Wellington Regional Arts Review 2024 - Finalists exhibition, Whirinaki Whare Taonga, Upper Hutt
Waiheke Art Award 2024 - Finalists exhibition, Waiheke Art Gallery, Waiheke, Auckland
2023
Craig’s Aspiring Art Prize 2023 - Finalists exhibition, Wanaka
Waiheke Art Award 2023 - Finalists exhibition, Waiheke Art Gallery, Waiheke, Auckland
Ghost In The Machine - joint exhibition with Kaye McGarva and Ramon Robertson, Muse Art Gallery, Hawkes Bay Jan/Feb 2023
Molly Morpeth Canaday Painting Award 2023, Finalists exhibition, Whakatäne Exhibition Centre
Interior Dialogues - joint exhibition with Shelley Masters, Muse Art Gallery, Hawkes Bay
Affordable Art Show 2023 - Muse Art Gallery, Havelock North
’Curate’ group exhibition - Mitchell Studios, Wellington NZ
2022
Wellington Regional Arts Review 2022 - Finalists exhibition, Whirinaki Whare Taonga, Upper Hutt, December 2022 - February 2023
Small Works - Mitchell Studios, Wellington NZ, December 2022
Affordable Art Show 2022 - Muse Art Gallery, Havelock North
Art Matters 6 online exhibition - Selected for Honourable Mention, but not for final 15 exhibition, Galerie Biesenbach, Cologne, Germany
2021
Parkin Drawing Prize 2021 - Finalists exhibition, NZ Academy of Fine Arts, Wellington
Orbit - Group Exhibition - Poimena Gallery, Launceston, Tasmania, Australia (March - May 2021)
Indefinite - Solo Exhibition (December 2020 - January 2021) - Pataka Art+ Museum, Porirua
2020
Playtime 2020 - Muse Art Gallery, Havelock North, Hawkes Bay, Christmas exhibition
Wellington Regional Arts Review 2020 - Finalists exhibition, Whirinaki Whare Taonga, Upper Hutt, December 2020 - February 2021
ARTBourne 2020 exhibition - Wellesley College, Days Bay
New Zealand Painting and Printmaking award 2020 - Finalists exhibition, Weltec, Hamilton
Craig’s Aspiring Art Prize 2020 - Holy Family Catholic School, Wanaka
2019
Playtime 2019 - Muse Art Gallery, Havelock North, Hawkes Bay, Christmas exhibition
Equivocal - Solo exhibition (July - August 2019) - Muse Art Gallery, Havelock North
20 Years Exhibition - Kina Gallery, New Plymouth (April - May 2019)
Molly Morpeth Canaday National Painting Award 2019, Finalists exhibition, Whakatāne Arts Centre
Arc, Angle, Plane, Form (March - May 2019) Group exhibition, Gallery 57, Arundel, West Sussex, UK
Dilogical - Solo Exhibition January 2019 - Thistle Hall Gallery, Wellington
2018
Playtime 2018 - Muse Art Gallery, Havelock North, Hawkes Bay, Christmas exhibition
Taranaki National Art Awards 2018 - Opunake Events Centre, Taranaki
ARTBourne 2018 exhibition - Wellesley College, Days Bay