Rodney Fumpston Archive

Rodney Fumpston was born in Fiji in 1947, moving to New Zealand in the 1950s. From 1966 he attended Elam School of Fine Arts, achieving a master’s degree with first class honours in 1972, specialising in printmaking. Fumpston continued his education in London, attending the Central School of Art and Design, and graduating in 1974 with Advanced Studies in Printmaking.

Returning to New Zealand in 1977, Fumpston taught printmaking at the Auckland Society of Arts. In 1995 he became the head of the printmaking department at Elam until 2004. In 2004 Fumpston returned to Fiji, where he currently resides between Sigatoka, Fiji and Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland.

Fumpston is one of New Zealand’s foremost printmaking artists, well known for his etchings. Throughout his career his work has explored light and matter, and the contrast between soft and sharp. Fumpston’s artworks frequently incorporate themes inspired by his extensive travels and his personal heritage in New Zealand and Fiji.

This archive consists of Rodney Fumpston’s personal papers, including works on paper from his time at Elam and London, proofing plates, preparatory drawings, exhibition publications.