A Place to Paint: Colin McCahon in Auckland

A Place to Paint: Colin McCahon in Auckland

Exhibition Details

A Place to Paint: Colin McCahon in Auckland considers McCahon’s long-time relationship with Auckland and the significance of the physical, spiritual and cultural landscape on his painting.

Colin McCahon moved to Auckland from Christchurch in May 1953 to begin work at Auckland City Art Gallery. McCahon’s 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. He purchased a cottage for his family at French Bay, and set about painting the regenerating kauri forest that surrounded his home, and the Manukau Harbour at the end of the road.

For the next three decades, his painting responded to the landscapes around his homes and studios in the Waitakeres, inner-city Auckland and Muriwai. McCahon also created works that became part of Auckland’s built environment – including the artworks commissioned for the Convent Chapel of Our Lady of the Missions at Remuera, which will be shown publicly with other large scale paintings from the 1960s. The 1970s and early 1980s will be represented by major paintings created at the Muriwai studio.

On the occasion of this exhibition, the Gallery has published the e-publication, Working towards Meaning – The Restoration of Colin McCahon’s Chapel Windows.  

Don't miss our concurrent Colin McCahon exhibitions including, From the Archive: Colin McCahon in Auckland and The Wake: A Poem in the Forest,  free to view on Ground level. 

Date
Curated by
Ron Brownson and Julia Waite

Selected artworks

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Not on display

Titirangi
Titirangi

Colin McCahon

Production date
1956-1957
Medium
oil on canvas on board
Size (h x w)
910 x 1458 x 8 mm
Credit line
Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki, gift of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Wellington, 2002
Accession no
2002/11/2
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Not on display

Here I give thanks to Mondrian
Here I give thanks to Mondrian

Colin McCahon

Production date
1961
Medium
oil (alkyd) on hardboard
Size (h x w)
1215 x 915 mm
Credit line
Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki, gift of the Friends of the Auckland Art Gallery, 1964
Accession no
1964/9/3
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Not on display

Elias triptych
Elias triptych

Colin McCahon

Production date
1959
Medium
oil ("Solpah"), sand on three hardboard panels
Size (h x w)
1219 x 838 mm
Credit line
Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki, purchased 1982
Accession no
1982/14/4.1-3
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Not on display

Elias triptych
Elias triptych

Colin McCahon

Production date
1959
Medium
oil ("Solpah"), sand on three hardboard panels
Size (h x w)
1219 x 838 mm
Credit line
Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki, purchased 1982
Accession no
1982/14/4.1-3
View Artwork

Not on display

Rocks at French Bay
Rocks at French Bay

Colin McCahon

Production date
1959
Medium
ink and oil on unstretched canvas
Size (h x w)
1960 x 1925 mm
Credit line
Chartwell Collection, Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki, 1987
Accession no
C1994/1/210