Gordon Walters was probably New Zealand’s most influential modern artist. Across six decades he explored the potential of a few simple geometric elements with a singular focus, creating works of exactitude and refinement. His work, now many decades old still looks modern with its clean lines and powerful, stark contrasts. It is incredible to realise that he hand-painted these works, a painstaking and precise art that required a steady hand and patience. They look like they are done on a computer but he predated computer-aided drawing. A comprehensive retrospective of his works called New Vision was recently held at The Auckland Art Gallery. This much-revered figure of New Zealand modernism is represented in all New Zealand’s major collections both private and public.
These open edition art prints are the perfect way to have an image of the iconic NZ artist, Gordon Walters, in your home. They have been produced in conjunction with his estate and the nation-wide exhibition of his work.
Untitled No.1 - Gordon Walters is most well known for his Koru paintings which explored the contrasts of positive and negative using a pared-down palette and use of bold simple shapes. This painting is a great example of his Koru work.
Black on White - Gordon Walters was well known for his work which matched European modernist art with Māori and Pacific art forms. This included his use of the Maori koru motif which is beautifully and precisely painted here.
Tama (1977) was Walters’ first fully realised print —and one of his finest. The white ground gives it a greater definition than his earlier prints, and the placement of the image on the sheet is carefully considered.
Maho - means quiet and calm. Walters regarded Maho as one of his finest works and it is said to represent his marriage to Margret Orbell who was a literature and language professor. Both she and Walters had a lifelong love and fascination with Maori culture. The two koru can be read as supporting and balancing each other.
Untitled 1972 - although Gordon Walters worked predominantly in monochrome black and white he also used colour throughout his career. This work is an example of how he used colour to accentuate the positive/negative treatment of space.
The unframed prints measure 280 x 355cms. The framed prints are 310 x 380mm These stunning prints are also available also in a white box frame with clear glass.
*We may not always carry the white framed prints but we are happy to order one for you. Please allow at least a week extra to get one made up if we do not have one in stock.