gary waldrom

Milford Galleries Dunedin18 Dowling Street Dunedin (03) 477 7727 [email protected]

www.milfordgalleries.co.nz

31 st MARCH - 24 th APR IL , 2012

Dangerous Curves~ 28 th Apr i l - 23 rd May 2012 ~

1. Torpedo in the Bay of Hawks (2011), oil on canvas, stretcher (v x h x d): 918 x 1830 x 33 mm

2. Burlesque (2011/12), oil on canvas, stretcher (v x h x d): 1220 x 1832 x 34 mm [ work in progress ]

3. You Can't Fool the Fat Man (2011/12), oil on canvas, stretcher (v x h x d): 840 x 1832 x 34 mm

4. Judy in Disguise (with Beret and Bugatti) (2011/12), oil on canvas, stretcher (v x h x d): 1020 x 1980 x 34 mm

5. Blind Girl Dance II (2011/12), oil on canvas, stretcher (v x h x d): 1222 x 1832 x 34 mm [ work in progress ]

6. Fear No Man (2009/10), diptych; oil on canvas, left panel (v x h x d): 1522 x 1218 x 34 mm, right panel (v x h x d): 1832 x 1218 x 34 mm [ work in progress ]

7. Discussion: Metaphysics (Jill and Her Parrot) (2011/12)

oil on canvas, stretcher (v x h x d): 1528 x 762 x 34 mm

9. Deaf-Mute Clown (2011/12)


8. Jester's Birthday (2011/12)


Gary Waldrom is one of the truly unique figures of contemporary NZ art. His

works present a fascinating parade of the human condition and build illusive

events which establish narratives spanning generations, time and place. Part-

fact, part-fiction, Waldrom locates his work in the chasms of dreams, in the

travails of isolation and the absurdities of personality. His work commences

with the premise of a small vaudevillian travelling show that has come into

southern Hawkes Bay and never left.

Waldrom is an intuitive painter and his unique style has evolved to such an

extent that he uses numerous painting and drawing techniques side by side.

In every work he places the representational alongside abstraction. The marks

and processes of the paintings’ evolution are likewise on display.

Each painting has a profound psychological impact. The works are theatrical

and moody with the roles of metaphor and symbol adding to the surreal

contrasts and dialogues. Each figure possesses an endlessly questioning gaze.

Everything is both familiar and strange. There are relationships to be

unraveled, events in process to be comprehended.

All prices are NZD and include GST; Prices are current at the time of the exhibition

E X H I B I T I O N P R I C E L I S TE X H I B I T I O N P R I C E L I S TE X H I B I T I O N P R I C E L I S TE X H I B I T I O N P R I C E L I S T

1 Torpedo in the Bay of Hawks (2011) NFS

2 Burlesque (2011/12) 18,500

3 You Can't Fool the Fat Man (2011/12) 17,000

4 Judy in Disguise (with Beret and Bugatti) (2011/12) 17,500

5 Blind Girl Dance II (2011/12) 18,500

6 Fear No Man (2009/10) 27,500

7 Discussion: Metaphysics (Jill and Her Parrot) (2011/12) 14,000

8 Jester's Birthday (2011/12) 5,750

9 Deaf-Mute Clown (20121/12) 5,750

Gary Waldrom 2012 CV Milford Galleries Dunedin www.milfordgalleries.co.nz

P a g e | 1

GARY WALDROM b. 1953, lives Waipawa

Millionaire and Fountain of Youth (2009-10)

"Waldrom's past exhibitions have shown him to be a homegrown master of the human parade as

masquerade, employing a cast of simpering imps and changelings to explore expressions registered by

the face - is particular the saturnine leer, the half-smirk, the impertinent and questioning gaze. From

such looks he conjures parables and allegories for our current moment." (1)

Gary Waldrom produces in his painting an alternate reality that is uncannily close to real life. His work

explores themes of isolation, dream, intuitive processes and the human condition. Born and raised in

Waipawa in the Hawkes Bay, he has been painting since an early age.

Waldrom’s paintings are familiar yet strange. Some of the imagery in his work is instantly recognisable

such as the distinctive Hawkes Bay landscapes and Waipawa buildings yet other elements provide

fragments of a narrative the viewer is asked to explore. To experience Waldrom’s work is to actively

engage in a dialogue with it. This is one of Waldrom’s numerous strengths; the ability to create a

dreamscape where questions remain unanswered but continue to manifest.

People and places come to life in Waldrom’s works. The elfin characters that appear in his work are

almost hybrids of children and adults who reveal their own personalities. One can only imagine what

they are thinking when they are looking out of the painting directly at you; from their real place into

yours.

To describe Waldrom as an “outsider artist” is to label him all too quickly. His paintings clearly

demonstrate an understanding and knowledge of painting conventions however his work is not

confined to formal parameters and his discovery through practice has enabled him to develop a truly

unique style which is visually fascinating.

Gary Waldrom was born 1953 in Waipawa Hawke’s Bay. He has been a finalist in various significant art

competitions since the 1970’s: including the Benson & Hedges Art Award (1978), Winner –Eastern &

Central Trust Bank Art prize (1981), Merit prize – Montana Lindauer Art Award (1986). He has had

numerous and regular solo exhibitions throughout the country, and has appeared in a number of group

shows most recently at the Hastings City Art Gallery titled “Mind Games (Surrealism in Aotearoa)”. He

has featured in both documentaries and radio shows. His works are held in public and private

collections nationally including The James Wallace Trust and Hawkes Bay Museum & Art Gallery.

1. David Eggleton, 'Gary Waldrom: Catch Us If You Can', Art New Zealand, Number 136 2010

Gary Waldrom 2012 CV Milford Galleries Dunedin www.milfordgalleries.co.nz

P a g e | 2

GARY WALDROM b. 1953, lives Waipawa

SELECTED SOLO EXHIBITIONS

2012 Dangerous Curves, Milford Galleries Dunedin

2010 Catch Us If You Can, Milford Galleries Dunedin

2009 New Works, Milford Galleries Dunedin

2006 New Paintings, milford galleries auckland

2005 New Work, Janne Land Gallery, Wellington

2003 Judith Anderson Gallery, Auckland

2002 Janne Land Gallery, Wellington








1992 – 1993 Hawke’s Bay Exhibition Centre

1992 Gisborne Museum and Art Centre

1988 Hawke’s Bay Museum

1983 – 1984 A.N.Z.A.S. Travelling Exhibition

1981 John Leech Gallery, Auckland

1977 Moller’s Basement Gallery, Auckland

SELECTED GROUP EXHIBITIONS

2012 The Surreal, Milford Galleries Dunedin

2009 Take 5, MG, Auckland

Mind Games (Surrealism in Aotearoa), Hastings City Art Gallery

2007 Selected Works by Gallery Artists, milford galleries auckland

2006 Object, Milford Galleries Dunedin

2005 Chosen, milford galleries auckland

2004 New Year, New Work, Janne Land Gallery, Wellington

Overview - Notions of the Figurative, Milford Galleries Dunedin

AWARDS

1986 Merit Prize, Montana Lindauer Art Award

1981 Winner, Eastern & Central Trust Bank Art Prize

1978 Finalist in Benson and Hedges Art Award

COLLECTIONS

The Rutherford Trust Collection

The James Wallace Trust

Hawkes Bay Museum and Art Gallery

Le’Art Group, Hawkes Bay

Helene Quilter Collection housed at Govett Brewster

BIBLIOGRAPHY 2010 Eggleton, David, Gary Waldrom: Catch Us If You Can, Art New Zealand, Number 136,

2010

2009 Cook, Vanessa Eve, A Familiar Dream, written for catalogue Waldrom ‘New Works’ 2009,

Milford Galleries Dunedin

2002 Outsider Art, episode 6, Radio NZ, Touchstone

The Big Art Trip II, episode 5, Television New Zealand

1995/96 Mack, James, Reverie and Reverence- The Paintings of Gary Waldrom, Art New Zealand,

No 77, Summer 95-96

gary waldrom

Documents

stretcher v x h x d

left panel v x h x d

right panel v x h x

diptych oil

mmgary waldrom

fat man

bay of hawks

human parade