blair

click images to enlarge

Target

49" x 47"

Oil on canvas

2005

Philippa Blair | bio |

Radical Moves, 36" x 72" (diptyche), Oil on canvas, 2004

"Since arriving in Los Angeles from New Zealand in 1995 I have been developing a visual language relating to the challenges of a new environment in the Pacific Rim.

My explorations of travel, soundtracks, scores, movements, ecologies and topographies feed me.

Starting from line into gesture, building forms, structures, actions, changing directions and accelerations. Both organically and hi tech inspired. Building a new home and studio in Venice, CA. Dramatic juxtapositions of roads and intersections, time-based as in music."

Painting as a spectacular event liable to change, flow (with) interruptions and disruptions. Reflecting and reordering the chaos of the ‘mind’s eye’ is a way of looking at today’s world in crisis. The punch of optimism and delight is still there in an increasingly surreal existence. The new paintings continue to draw the line with dynamic painted structures and forms defiant of stylistic categorization. Flux and change become a constant. The end results are not always predictable!

____________________________________________

BIO

1945

Born. Christchurch, New Zealand
Lives and works in Venice, California
Education

1965-67
Diploma of Fine Art. Ilam School of Fine Art, Canterbury University,
Christchurch New Zealand (BA English studies 1967,
Canterbury University)

1968
BA studies , English, Massey University, Palmerston North , NZ

1973-74
BA studies in Art History, Auckland University, NZ

1976
Diploma of Teaching. Secondary School Fine Art, Secondary
Teachers' College, Auckland, New Zealand



Select Solo Exhibitions

2007

"Attivare", Lawrence Asher Gallery, Los Angeles

"Spring-Break", Janne Land Gallery,Wellington, NZ

"Fyr arte contemporanea", Florence, Italy

2005

“Recent Paintings” Warwick Henderson Gallery, Auckland,N.Z

“Painting Matters/PlainsWeaver”

Rangi Ruru

School,Christchurch, N.Z

“Llano Quemado” & other works,

fyr arte contemporanea, Florence, Italy

2004

“Cutting Loose” New Work Double Vision Gallery. L.A. Ca

“Cut Loose” Janne Land Gallery, Wellington, NZ

“Survey: 1991-2001” Warwick Henderson Gallery, Auckland, N.Z.

“Out of Site” (works on paper) Brooke-Gifford Gallery, Christchurch, N.Z.

“Firenze com’era” new lithographs and works on paper, Paper Graphica

Christchurch , New Zealand

2003

Philippa Blair(Maps) A. Frintino (photos) fyr contemporanea, Florence,Italy

“Philippa Blair: Paintings”, Pfizer International Development and Research

Center Headquarters, New London, Connecticut

2002

“Open Studio” Griffis Art Center, New London, CT

“TransMotion” Janne Land Gallery, Wellington, NZ

“New Paintings and Drawings” Pacific Art Gallery, Zug, Switzerland

2001

"TransMotion" New Paintings and Drawings

Double Vision Gallery, Los Angeles, California, USA

"Millennium Art Gallery", Blenheim, Marlborough, New Zealand

"Maximal Abstraction," Judith Anderson Gallery, Auckland, New Zealand (catalogue)

2000

"Trajectories," Janne Land Gallery, Wellington, New Zealand

Select Group Exhibitions

2007

“ArtTaipei”

Taipei international ArtFair (curator:Lichuan Hung: Chan Liu museum)
“Soft and Hard’ Torrance Art Museum, Torrance , Ca (curator: Kristina Newhouse)

2006

LA contemporary art fair (dencontemporaryart) Santa Monica, Ca

‘Summer/Autumn Salon’ Catchment Gallery,

Nelson , NZ

“New Works” Catchment Gallery,

Nelson, NZ

“Venice Art Walk” Auction, Bergamot Station,

Santa Monica, Ca

“Safe” Art Auction, Auckland, NZ

“Alternate Routes:Mapping in the Studio”

Sam Francis Gallery, Crossroads School ,

Santa Monica,Ca (curator: Pam Posey)

“Art of New Zealand/ 2006”

Chan Liu Museum, Taipei, Taiwan

(curator; Li-Chuan Hung)

“Off the Wall” exhibition

Riverside Art Museum, California

2005

“ Flow” 11 California Painters, Riverside Art Museum

(curator: Peter Frank)

“30th Anniversary Show”,

Brooke Gifford Gallery, Christchurch, N.Z.

“Eye Blast” with Hilary Baker,

Cypress College, Cypress, Ca

“ Spring Catalogue Show” ,

W.Henderson Gallery, Auckland, NZ

“ Point & Line to Plane,” COCA,

Christchurch, NZ

“ Christmas Show” Janne Land Gallery,

Wellington, NZ

“Summer Catalogue Warwick Henderson Gallery, Auckland , NZ

2004

ArtExpo, MonteCarlo, France, Lugano, Switzerland
(FYR arte contemporanea, Florence, Italy)

“New Year/New Work”

Janne Land Gallery, Wellington, N.Z.

“Heaven’s gonna Burn your Eyes”
Cartelle Gallery, Marina del Rey, Ca

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Books

2006

Gregory O’Brien .”We set out one morning” BNZ Art Collection. Private Bank
Bank of New Zealand

2003

M. Dunn “New Zealand Painting: A Concise History” Auckland University Press

2001

"Calendar 2001," Victoria University of Wellington Press

"Into The Pacific," 2001 Diary, Te Papa Press, Te Papa / Museum of New Zealand, Wellington

2000

"Concise Dictionary of New Zealand Artists" K. McGahey, Gilt Edge Publishing, New Zealand

1999

Callan, Louise and Smith, P. "Our People, Our Century," Hodder Moa Beckett

Caughey, E. & Gow ,J “Contemporary New Zealand Art 2.” David Bateman

1996

Dunn, Michael. "Contemporary New Zealand Painting," Craftsmans Press

1994

Brown, Warwick. "100 New Zealand Paintings," Godwit Press

1991

Dunn, Michael. "Concise History of New Zealand Painting,"

1990

Stark, Beate. "Philippa Blair," Master of Arts Graduate Thesis, University of Auckland, Auckland

Dunn, Michael and Docking, Gil. "Two Hundred Years of New Zealand Painting,"

1986

Kirker, Anne. "New Zealand Women Artists,"

Eastmond, Elizabeth. "Women In The Arts In New Zealand,"

Bett, Elva. "New Zealand Art - A Modern Perspective,"

1982

Brown, Gordon and Keith, Hamish. "An Introduction to New Zealand Painting"

Magazines / Reviews

2006
“Travel Experience Reflected in Abstract Work” K.Hoby Nelson Mail April 2006

“Art from the University Collection” Linda Tyler.Gus Fisher Gallery . University of Auckland News Vol 36 issue 18. Oct 6 2006

“Alternate Routes”(Pick of the Week) Peter Frank L.A. Weekly Nov 10-16 2006 Vol 28. No 51

2005
“Kiwi Splashdown” Christopher Moore, Arts /The Press, Christchurch, N.Z.

“Never Mind the Pollocks “ Andrew Paul Wood Listener February 2005

2004

“New Zealander at the Pacific Rim: Philippa Blair in Venice” Anne Kirker , Art N.Z. Summer 04-05

“ Postcards/Christchurch” Sally Blundell Art News.

N.Z , Spring 2004

“Creative Tension”, Linda Herrick Canvas /N.Z.Herald June 2004

2002-01

"TransMotion: Drawings & Paintings by Philippa Blair", Cassandra Fusco, Craft Arts International #54

Fusco, Cassandra "Art and Opera at COCA Christchurch" Asian Art News, Vol II No 2 March/April 2001

Fusco, Cassandra. Craft Arts International, #49 Quarterly, Australia

Fusco, Cassandra “Philippa Blair at DoubleVision Gallery” Asian Art News, Vol II No 6 Nov/Dec 2

1996

D’Avila, Patricia “:Philippa Blair: un pajaro que no admite rejas” Voces del Sur no.28 December 1996

1993

Darrow, Kate. "Paint for Your Life-A Conversation With Philippa Blair," Art New Zealand, 68

1989

Safred, Laura. "Three New Zealand Artists in Italy," Art New Zealand 51

1988-9

Santese, Enzo. Juliet Art Magazine, Italy. December 1988 - January 1989

1987

Kirker, Anne. "Metamorphosis in Philippa Blair's Recent Painting," Art New Zealand 42.

1985

Spens, Michael. "New Art in New Zealand:

A Regional Survey,"

Studio International,

Volume 198, No. 100

1982

Parr, Chris. "Acts of Inclusion-The Spirit of Philippa Blair's Recent Painting," Art New Zealand 27

AWARDS

1980

Queen Elizabeth II Arts Council Grant (traveled in U.S.A and Germany, 1981)

1984

Queen Elizabeth II Arts Council Grant (traveled in France, Spain and Portugal 1985-6)

1987

Air NZ Queen Elizabeth II Arts Travel Award (traveled to U.S.A. 1987; Italy 1988)

COMMISSIONS

2006
“Celebrate Art NZ” interactive education poster (P Blair/ U.Cranmer text)

1995
Two Lithographs, Sky City Hotel and Casino, Auckland

1992
"6 Lithographs 1992," Works On Paper Gallery, Auckland

1990
"After Crazy Horse," Set Designer for dance production,
Origins Dance Theatre, Auckland

1989
"1990 Prints," Muka Studio, Auckland Aotea Centre Mural, Auckland

1986
N.Z. Insurance Co. Printmakers Commission Collard Brothers Wine Labels

1985
International Festival of the Arts Poster Robertson Window, Havelock North

1983
Arts / Commerce Building Mural, University of Auckland, Auckland Auckland Regional Orchestra Poster Stained Glass Windows, Cook Islands Church, Otara

- back to top -