Gow Langsford Gallery Represented Artists
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Katharina Grosse Chill Seeping from the Walls Gets between Us, 2021 Full credit p.118
Gow Langsford Gallery Represented Artists
Introduction
“Being involved in the art world in any capacity, be it artist, collector, dealer, curator or writer, is not a job! It becomes who you are - it defines you.” -Gary Langsford With unparalleled commitment, Gow Langsford Gallery supports and promotes New Zealand art locally and on the global stage. Transforming a dilapidated petrol station on Richmond Road into Auckland’s most desirable commercial gallery space in the late 1980s marked the beginning of an ambitious program of exhibitions and events. From its inception Gow Langsford has sought to forge a new path for art in Aotearoa and continues to be a pioneer, seeking out and nurturing new talent. Now in its fourth decade, the Gallery is extremely proud of its stable of artists, some of whom have been with the gallery since the beginning. “We have carried a vision concentrating on being located in New Zealand but trading globally, and of providing the best platform for our artists to be presented within.” -John Gow “For me, the partnership between artists and Gallery is foremost the key to our success. There is also the role of our clients - from collectors who have supported the Gallery since the very beginning to others who are at the start of their art collecting journey, together we all make it happen.” -Anna Jackson
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Auckland Art Fair Virtual Fair 2020, Gow Langsford Gallery. Installation view, 2020. Photography by Tobias Kraus
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Reuben Paterson Guide Kaiārahi (detail), 2021 stainless steel, transparent acrylic and glass. Commissioned by Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki. Owned and generously supported by the Edmiston Trust. Photography by David St. George
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Represented Artists
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Laurence Aberhart
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Simon Ingram
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Shane Cotton
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Gregor Kregar
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James Cousins
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Virginia Leonard
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Tony Cragg
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Hugo Koha Lindsay
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Paul Dibble
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Allen Maddox
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Jacqueline Fahey
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Karl Maughan
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Graham Fletcher
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David McCracken
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Dale Frank
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Judy Millar
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Dick Frizzell
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Alex Monteith
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Darryn George
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Antonio Murado
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Max Gimblett
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Reuben Paterson
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Brett Graham
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Peter Peryer
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Katharina Grosse
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John Pule
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Chris Heaphy
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Lisa Roet
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André Hemer
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Jono Rotman
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Louise Henderson
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Bernar Venet
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Michael Hight
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John Walsh
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Sara Hughes
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Grace Wright
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Laurence Aberhart b. 1949, Aotearoa New Zealand
Laurence Aberhart’s iconic photography is steeped in history—not only in his chosen subject matter but through his use of an antique Korona View Camera. Now in his seventies, he continues to create contemporary photographs through a historical lens, balancing compositional precision with an intense atmospheric quality. Right
Gow Langsford Gallery has represented Laurence Aberhart since 2014. Large format, Gow Langsford Gallery, installation view, 2019. Photography by Tobias Kraus
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Taranaki, Wanganui, 12 May 2008 (detail), 2008 silver gelatin, gold and selenium toned photograph 255 x 300mm
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Shane Cotton b. 1964, Aotearoa New Zealand (Ngāpuhi, Ngāti Rangi, Ngāti Hine, Te Uri Taniwha)
Shane Cotton is an internationally renowned artist who established himself at the forefront of the renaissance of Māori art in the 1990s and his distinguished career now spans over three decades. His practice is underpinned by recurrent questioning of his own bicultural identity, and our collective cultural identity. The symbols from Māori and Pakeha cultural histories in his paintings are predominantly derived from post-contact Māori art, and prompt conversations about nationhood and identity. The fragmentary images form a landscape of memory—poignant representations of time and space. Gow Langsford Gallery first represented Shane Cotton from 1998-2009 and again from 2021.
Shane Cotton: Te Puāwai, The Dowse, Lower Hutt, installation view, 2021. Photography courtesy of the artist
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Kenehi III (detail), 1998 oil on canvas 2000 x 3000mm
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Tararua, 2021 acrylic on paper 1040 x 760mm
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James Cousins b. 1965, Aotearoa New Zealand
A central component of James Cousins’ practice is questioning what constitutes the medium of painting; with the layering of process and procedure, his works simultaneously expose and conceal a trail of decisions central to their creation. Combining found imagery of nature and New Zealand’s history with the genealogies of abstract painting, his work blurs prior concepts of abstraction and figuration, creating a chasm of tension between representation, materiality, and illusion. Gow Langsford Gallery has represented James Cousins since 2008.
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pl. 149 untitled (detail), 2018 oil and acrylic on canvas 1950 x 1500mm
Untitled, 2020 acrylic on canvas 1900 x 1700mm
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Tony Cragg b. 1949, England. Lives in Germany
As one of the most acclaimed artists of his generation, British sculptor Tony Cragg pushes materiality to the limit in his gravitydefying sculptures. From bronze, corten steel and stainless steel through to plaster, wood and plastic, his practice plays with surface quality and its manipulation, often pushing these materials to their limits. The results range from the delicate to the monumental. Gow Langsford Gallery has represented Tony Cragg since 2007.
Artist’s studio, 2007. Photography by David Kaluza
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Gate, 2015 stainless steel 510 x 470 x 500mm Photography by Micheal Richter
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Tony Cragg, Gow Langsford Gallery, installation view, 2018. Photography by Tobias Kraus
Paul Dibble b. 1943, Aotearoa New Zealand
Sculptor Paul Dibble is a leading artist of his generation and one of few artists in this country who casts his own works in bronze. He manipulates this heavy and enduring material into contemplative works exploring New Zealand’s cultural hybridity as a colonised country, as well as a place rich with native natural beauty. Working in both figurative and abstracted styles over the years, his practice continues to explore the infinite potential of these forms. Gow Langsford Gallery has represented Paul Dibble since 1990.
Artist’s studio, 2021. Photography by Alexander Robertson
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Huia Above, 2018 bronze and 24 carat gold gilding 2450 x 1150 x 1000mm Installation view at private residence
Long Horizon, 2019 cast bronze 2700 x 3550 x 880mm
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Jacqueline Fahey b. 1929, Aotearoa New Zealand
Now in her nineties Jacqueline Fahey is one of few female career artists of her generation and she continues to push the boundaries of societal structures and politics within her work. Combining vivid portrayals of urban and suburban landscapes with figurative components, she makes observations of people and the ways in which we live and communicate. With rich use of colour and intimate detail in her compositions, her work challenges the status quo and encourages new ways of looking. Gow Langsford Gallery has represented Jacqueline Fahey since 2020.
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Artist’s studio, 2020. Photography by Tobias Kraus
I Dreamt About the Day my Father, the Old Soldier Died, 1981-82 oil on canvas 1700 x 1700mm
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Augusta and Lucy taking up the theatre, 1981-82 oil on canvas 1705 x 1245mm
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The Third Space: Ambiguity in the Art of Graham Fletcher, Gus Fisher Gallery, installation view, 2018. Photography by Sam Hartnett
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Untitled (Dear stranger), 2016 oil on canvas 1520 x 1220mm
Graham Fletcher b. 1969, Aotearoa New Zealand
Graham Fletcher’s work visually communicates a Postcolonial discourse, exploring cross-cultural relationships between Western and non-Western peoples. His practice plays with preconceived notions of the coloniser versus the colonised, and the observer versus the observed. Of particular interest is the European predilection for housing Oceanic and African Tribal art in domestic settings; Here Fletcher explores how this practice can be subverted within a contemporary Pacific and New Zealand context. Gow Langsford Gallery has represented Graham Fletcher since 2014. 29
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Night Journal (Flowers 3), 2020 oil on linen 920 x 715mm
Night Journal, Gow Langsford Gallery, installation view, 2020. Photography by Tobias Kraus
Dale Frank b. 1959, Australia
Australian artist Dale Frank has a practice that challenges our preconceived notions of painting. Creating abstract works rich in colour and texture, Frank manipulates paint and surface in his purely conceptual creations that experiment with rhythm and depth. The results are hypnotic to perceive, engaging the viewer as a participant within his vision of surface potential. Gow Langsford Gallery has represented Dale Frank since 1997.
Successful, Dte, honest, Dominating, seeking single mother for regular weekend hook ups away south coast. Must be under 60kg, 2019 varnish and epoxyglass on Perspex 2000 x 2000mm
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Dale Frank, Gow Langsford Gallery, installation view, 2019. Photography by Tobias Kraus
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Dick Frizzell b. 1943, Aotearoa New Zealand
Dick Frizzell has mastered the ability to continuously reinvent his practice, always through a highly skilled handling of paint. He has traversed a range of themes and styles within his oeuvre, managing to imbue his works with a strong emotional resonance—whether playful humour, nostalgia, or rebellion. He pushes the boundaries of tradition, often intertwining artistic sensibilities of high art and popular culture to invite a consideration of painting from a fresh perspective. Gow Langsford Gallery has represented Dick Frizzell since 1987.
Artist’s studio, 2021. Photography by Jude Frizzell
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Misty Valley Paparoa (detail), 2021 oil on linen 1700 x 2700mm
Ceci N’est Pas 1921, Gow Langsford Gallery, installation view, 2020. Photography by Tobias Kraus
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Darryn George b. 1970, Aotearoa New Zealand (Ngāpuhi)
Darryn George is a New Zealand artist of Ngāpuhi descent, and his work reflects the dichotomy of his cultural roots—having a Christian faith along with Māori heritage. Primarily working with geometric abstraction in a palette reduced to red, black, and white, his more recent works have included figurative elements in a bright palette. Although traditionally within art history the abstraction of form avoids cultural references, George’s ability to interweave them is what defines his unique style. Gow Langsford Gallery has represented Darryn George since 2008.
Artist’s studio, 2021. Photography by Sam George
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Max Gimblett b. 1935, Aotearoa New Zealand. Lives in USA
Max Gimblett’s practice is rich with varied influences and philosophies, from abstract expressionism to Eastern and Western spiritual beliefs. Known for creating distinct canvas shapes, such as the quatrefoil, he expresses his energy through painting and continues to experiment with form, colour, and precious metals in his practice today. Bridging cultures and spiritualities, his work is based on concepts of consciousness and enlightenment, which manifest in brightly coloured gestural abstractions. Gow Langsford Gallery has represented Max Gimblett since 1988.
Artist’s studio, 2015. Photography by Paul Barbera
Sacred Voyage, 2020 acrylic, resin, water-based size and 22 carat leaf on canvas 30 x 30 inches/762 x 762mm
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Christ Risen (detail), 2020 acrylic, resin, aquasize and precious metal leaf on canvas 60 x 60 inches/1524 x 1524mm
Max Gimblett: Ocean Wheel, Christchurch Art Gallery Te Puna o Waiwhetū, installation view, 2020. Courtesy of Christchurch Art Gallery Te Puna o Waiwhetū
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Brett Graham b. 1967, Aotearoa New Zealand (Ngāti Koroki Kahukura, Tainui)
Sculptor Brett Graham is known for largescale sculpture and installation, exploring indigenous histories, politics, and philosophies. He sees his own whakapapa in relation to indigenous and non-Western identities around the world, and often explores issues of colonialism in his creations. Gow Langsford Gallery has represented Brett Graham since 2021.
Brett Graham, 2021. Photography by Chris Traill for Artist Profile Left
Te Hōkioi, 2008 mdf, fibreglass and steel 800 x 2900 x 4400mm Photography by Jennifer French
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Current spread and overleaf
Chill Seeping from the Walls Gets between Us, 2021 acrylic on fabric: 1050 x 2100 x 2000cm; digital prints on recycled polyester: 1000 x 3252 x 2147cm Photography by Hanna Kukorelli. Courtesy HAM Helsinki Art Museum, Gagosian, Galerie Nächst St. Stephan Rosemarie Schwarzwälder and König Galerie. © Katharina Grosse and VG Bild-Kunst, Bonn, 2021
Katharina Grosse b. 1961, Germany Katharina Grosse is a highly acclaimed artist who inventively fuses painting with architecture and sculpture, creating large scale, site specific immersive experiences. Using an industrial spray gun, she often works directly onto walls, landscapes, or objects, animating and reinvigorating them with vivid colour. Gow Langsford Gallery has represented Katharina Grosse since 2004.
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This is Life on Earth, Gow Langsford Gallery, installation view, 2021. Photography by Tobias Kraus
Chris Heaphy b. 1965, Aotearoa New Zealand (Ngāi Tahu)
Chris Heaphy’s painting practice explores the way we perceive time, place, and memory through multiple layers of meaning and experiences, reflecting on how these may be interpreted from various cultural perspectives. Heaphy is an artist of Māori and European descent and often explores notions of cultural identity. His paintings exist as both a constructed object—made up of varied imagery and painted surfaces—but also as a contemplative and reflective space, where for the viewer, time and memory have an altered place to inhabit outside the everyday. Gow Langsford Gallery has represented Chris Heaphy since 2008.
Artist’s studio, 2021. Photography by Noriko Sakamoto
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André Hemer b. 1981, Aotearoa New Zealand. Lives in Austria
André Hemer’s practice can be likened to a physical experience of the digital world; he is truly a twenty-first century creator. Utilising digital elements along with traditional painting, this hybridisation of mediums results in energetic abstracted works that play with three-dimensionality. Recent works show influence from the natural world, with his canvases rich in colour from the earth’s ever-changing skies. Gow Langsford Gallery has represented André Hemer since 2015.
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These days (June 6, 19:31 CEST) (detail), 2020 acrylic and pigment on canvas 670 x 500mm André Hemer, 2020 Photography by Leonhard Hilzensauer
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These Days (June 9, 17:53 CEST), 2020 acrylic and pigment on canvas 2060 x 1420mm
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These Days (June 12, 21:19 CEST) (detail), 2020 acrylic and pigment on canvas 1550 x 1100mm
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The estate of Dame
Louise Henderson 1902-1994, France. Lived in Aotearoa New Zealand
Dame Louise Henderson was a pioneering abstract artist. She emigrated to New Zealand in 1925 and exhibited with influential art association The Group in the 1930s. By the mid-twentieth century, she was considered one of New Zealand’s leading Modernist painters, embracing the cubism movement. Her work boldly explored colour and form, as she observed people, nature, and life in her paintings. Gow Langsford Gallery has represented the estate of Dame Louise Henderson since 2021.
Jerusalem No. 5 (detail), 1957 oil on canvas 695 x 1025mm
Photographer Unknown Henderson with House in Dieppe, 1959 gelatin silver print 204 x 162mm Photographic prints. New Zealand Free Lance: Photographic Prints and Negatives (PA-Group-00079), Alexander Turnbull Library, Wellington. PAColl-0785-1-061-01
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Bush Series No 10 (detail), 1970 oil on canvas 720 x 1050mm
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Whanganui River (detail), 2020 oil on linen 1120 x 1120mm
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Michael Hight b. 1961, New Zealand
Michael Hight continues his exploration of the New Zealand landscape with the ubiquitous beehive as a touchstone and a recurring motif. In recent times running parallel with the beehive works are darker paintings that incorporate landscape elements juxtaposed with objects of historical and/or personal relevance. Unifying themes in these two bodies of works are a geographical specificity and meditations on human manipulation of the natural environment. Gow Langsford Gallery has represented Michael Hight since 1987.
Pohokura (detail), 2020 oil on linen 1010 x 1520mm
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Sara Hughes b. 1971, Canada. Lives in Aotearoa New Zealand
Sara Hughes is an artist whose work radiates dynamism; as can be seen in her intimate paintings, immersive installations, and large-scale public projects. Using a range of materials her practice melds conceptual ideas with a complex use of colour and composition. Her recent paintings explore time and light, and how our days are defined by these cyclical rhythms. She articulates this through a recreation of her own experiences of changing light, working in layers of colour over her canvases to bring forth an evocation of light from certain moments in time. Gow Langsford Gallery has represented Sara Hughes since 2004.
Artist’s studio, 2019. Photography by Tobias Kraus
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Commission for the New Zealand International Convention Centre (detail of the western side of the building), Auckland ceramic enamel on glass, 2019. Photography by Tobias Kraus
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Simon Ingram b. 1971, Aotearoa New Zealand
Simon Ingram’s work creates a dialogue between art and technology. It is situated as a collaboration between artist, apparatus, and our life world. His practice exists in multiple dimensions: from machines that paint radio waves from space or the brain waves of people, to synthetic images made by artificial intelligence networks. Ingram reinvents painting as a contemporary practice for the digital age. Gow Langsford Gallery has represented Simon Ingram since 2008.
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Simon Ingram: The Algorithmic Impulse, City Gallery, Wellington, installation view, 2021. Photography by Harry Culy
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Gregor Kregar b. 1972, Slovenia. Lives in Aotearoa New Zealand
Gregor Kregar works with an extensive range of media, from stainless and cor-ten steel, glazed porcelain, and cast glass through to bronze and fiberglass. His skill in managing these varied materials is mirrored in his wide expanse of subject matter. Never to be limited, he exerts a vast imagination and energetic vivacity in his creations. He often uses displacement of recognisable subjects to surprise and delight his viewers, challenging preconceived notions of taste. Gow Langsford Gallery has represented Gregor Kregar since 2009.
Divided We Fall, Gow Langsford Gallery, installation view, 2020. Photography by Sam Hartnett
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Gregor Kregar, 2018. Photography by Tobias Kraus
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Artist’s studio, 2018. Photography by Tobias Kraus
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Virginia Leonard b. 1965, Aotearoa New Zealand
Virginia Leonard works with clay, resin, and glaze to create abstracted and visceral ceramic sculptures. Layering her vibrant materials, the works are fired with drips still in motion, freezing them in a state of intermediary peril, as though on a precipice. This tension stems from her work being predominantly autobiographical—a cathartic process, it is a personal language for expressing a lifetime of chronic pain. Gow Langsford Gallery has represented Virginia Leonard since 2020.
Breath Holder, Gow Langsford Gallery, installation view, 2021. Photography by Tobias Kraus
Virginia Leonard, 2021. Photography by Coco King
Breath Holder, Gow Langsford Gallery, installation view, 2021. Photography by Tobias Kraus
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Hugo Koha Lindsay b. 1987, Aotearoa New Zealand (Te Āti Awa, Ngāti Maru)
Hugo Koha Lindsay’s practice combines minimalism with abstraction. His paintings are not limited to paint on canvas; traces from his studio, home, and wider urban environment consequentially reside on his canvases, which may then be unstretched, cut, sewn, and re-stretched as he explores the processes of making that are usually disguised within a finished painting. The result are paintings that are interdisciplinary, evoking a transitional state that he embraces rather than avoids. Gow Langsford Gallery has represented Hugo Koha Lindsay since 2017. 78
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Figure revised 1 (detail), 2021 graphite compound, acrylic polymer and enamel on cotton 1900 x 1550mm
Figure revised 2, 2021 graphite compound and acrylic polymer on cotton 1850 x 1550mm
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The estate of
Allen Maddox 1948-2000, England. Lived in Aotearoa New Zealand
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Untitled, no date oil on pre-primed canvas 535 x 430mm Electric Thought Patterns, Gow Langsford Gallery, installation view, 2020. Photography by Tobias Kraus
One of New Zealand’s most important abstract expressionists, Allen Maddox explored the tensions of structure and gesture in his paintings. Focussing on the form of crosses and grids, his paintings are full of gestural and tonal exuberance. They are rich with spontaneity as he experimented with varying styles and sizes of paintbrush, different colour combinations, and compositions. Gow Langsford Gallery has represented Allen Maddox since 1987 and continues to represent his estate. 81
The Kids and the Cat (detail), 2017 oil on canvas, three panels, 410 x 410mm; 410 x 510mm; 410 x 410mm
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Karl Maughan b. 1964, Aotearoa New Zealand
Karl Maughan is an artist who is dedicated to his chosen subject matter—the garden. Just as a garden is carefully cultivated, so does Maughan cultivate his paintings. Working from photographs, he creates compositions that balance familiarity with an otherworldly transcendence. His latest works offer bolder, looser brushstrokes as he applies rich colours in impasto style. Gow Langsford Gallery has represented Karl Maughan since 1987.
Artist’s studio, 2020. Photography by John Crawford
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The Stranger (detail), 2001 oil on canvas 8 panels, each 1830 x 1520mm
David McCracken b. 1963, Aotearoa New Zealand
Sculptor David McCracken works primarily in fabricated steel, elevating humble objects of the everyday into memorable ones. This has led to innovative techniques in his work, such as ‘drop-forging’, where large steel weights are dropped onto sheet aluminium from a crane and ‘hydroforming’, a way of stretching steel with hydrostatic pressures. Gow Langsford Gallery has represented David McCracken since 2009.
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Artist’s studio, 2021. Courtesy of the artist
I’m gonna be arrogant when I grow up, 2020 Cor-ten steel 1600 x 2100 x 1900mm
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Judy Millar b. 1957, Aotearoa New Zealand
Judy Millar is a distinguished and internationally acclaimed artist known for her intensely physical and highly mediated paintings. She works from a within conceptual painting framework, in which she freely references painting’s recent histories, particularly delighting in plundering the expressiveness of gestural painting. Working with processes of erasure, wiping or scraping paint off the surface of the work, Millar takes up known positions only to deconstruct and question their previous meanings. Gow Langsford Gallery has represented Judy Millar since 1987.
Judy Millar, 2015. Courtesy of the artist Left
Artist’s studio, 2021. Courtesy of the artist
Action Movie, City Gallery Wellington, installation view, 2021. Photography by Cheska Brown
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Alex Monteith b. 1977, Ireland. Lives in Aotearoa New Zealand
Alex Monteith works multi-dimensionally with digital media such as sound, video and film to explore situated moments of action and performance. Her practice embraces themes of territory, politics, and physical boundaries as she focusses on the psychological and physical space of both individual and shared performative action. She often collaborates with specialists from a given field, from Air Force pilots to motorcycle racers, creating highly technical and dynamic works. Gow Langsford Gallery has represented Alex Monteith since 2013. 92
In Light of Time, 2017. Four-channel video and sound, 32:47 minutes. Coastal Flows/Coastal Incursions, ST PAUL St Gallery, Auckland University of Technology. Photography by Sam Hartnett
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Antonio Murado b. 1964, Spain. Lives in USA
Antonio Murado explores history and landscape in his emotive paintings. An immensely versatile artist with broad technical skill, his recent works have been deeply harmonious in their subtlety. By blowing liquid paint across pale, semitransparent backgrounds, the blown paint creates formations akin to flower petals that seemingly float across his canvases, creating an ethereal sensation of serenity. Gow Langsford Gallery has represented Antonio Murado since 1997.
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Untitled (detail), 2020 oil on linen 1520 x 1520mm
Leda, Gow Langsford Gallery, installation view, 2021. Photography by Tobias Kraus
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The Ever After (detail), 2021 glitter on canvas 1500 x 2000mm
Reuben Paterson b. 1973, Aotearoa New Zealand (Ngāti Rangitihi, Tūhourangi, Ngāi Tūhoe)
In 2000 Reuben Paterson painted The Wharenui that Dad Built, a seminal work that acknowledged his father’s passing and marks the beginning of his exploration of his own whakapapa in glitter. Over the next three decades he refined his technique of painting in glitter, the material which has now become synonymous with his name. His subjects have varied greatly; animals inspired by faux mink throws, retro patterns including one borrowed from a pair of his mum’s togs, botanical blooms, sublime skies, and fireworks, all pay a part in the mapping of the artist’s journey. Although primarily known for his paintings, his sculptural practice which also considers light and reflection, is gaining momentum in part due to the success of his 10m tall 2021 work Guide Kaiārahi installed on the forecourt of Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki. Gow Langsford Gallery has represented Reuben Paterson since 2003.
Artist’s studio, 2021. Photography by Jennifer French
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Reuben Paterson Guide Kaiārahi (detail), 2021 stainless steel, transparent acrylic and glass. Commissioned by Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki. Owned and generously supported by the Edmiston Trust. Photography by Hamish Melville
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The estate of
Peter Peryer 1941-2018, Aotearoa New Zealand
Peter Peryer was a largely self-taught photographer who began his practice in the 1970’s. He rose swiftly to the forefront of the New Zealand photography scene with captivating portraiture and a focus on local nature and life. Over the following five decades his compositions became increasingly formalist, and he included miscellaneous contemporary subject matter. His works are now held in major public and private collections within New Zealand and internationally. Gow Langsford has represented the estate of Peter Peryer since 2021.
Peter Peryer, 2018. Photography by Clovis Peryer
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Momoheaga (detail), 2021 enamel, pencil and ink on canvas 1500 x 1500mm
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John Pule b. 1962, Niue. Lives in Aotearoa New Zealand
When John Pule first arrived in inner city Auckland as a young adult in 1980, the formal tenets of poetry and painting were largely unknown to him. Over the next 30 years Pule would explore new directions as both writer and painter. He has since emerged as one of this country’s most recognised painters and one of the most celebrated artists of the “New Oceania”. His work is highly inventive, particularly in its adaptation of traditional Pacific art forms and is challenging and provocative in content. Gow Langsford Gallery has represented John Pule since 1994.
John Pule, 2015. Photography by Tobias Kraus
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Fraccionar, 2019. Estancia FEMSA Casa Luis Barragán, Mexico. View of: John Pule, Prototype - site of old myths, 1995, oil on canvas, 2000 x 1980mm. Photography courtesy of Estancia FEMSA - Casa Luis Barragán.
Still Not Close Enough, 2021 oil, enamel, and ink on canvas 2000 x 2000mm
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Brother’s Keeper, Gow Langsford Gallery, installation view, 2020. Photography by Tobias Kraus
Lisa Roet b. 1967, Australia
Lisa Roet’s multidisciplinary practice questions the complex relationship between humans and our closest animal relatives, the ape and monkey. With the ape acting as a mirror and social commentary, it reminds us of the necessity to re-evaluate our position within this increasingly urbanised world. In 2021 her project David Greybeard, in collaboration with the Jane Goodall Institute, will be placed by the City of London in the shadow of the Tate Modern, London. It stands to highlight the COP26 UN Summit and to celebrate the role that art plays in the creation of sustainable futures. Gow Langsford Gallery has represented Lisa Roet since 2015.
Lisa Roet, 2017. Photography by Liao Sheng Xiang
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Jono Rotman b. 1974, Aotearoa New Zealand. Lives in USA
Jono Rotman: Documents, City Gallery Wellington, installation view, 2015. Photography courtesy of City Gallery Wellington
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Photographer Jono Rotman explores the ongoing cataclysms within society, from the traumas of colonisation to the collision of civilisation and the natural world. Working with large-format film, and often producing works on a large scale, Rotman is attracted to subjects living on the edge of society who he brings to the forefront of his practice. Within his photographs, Rotman seeks to wield the potential of the analogue process to communicate spirit and narrative. Gow Langsford Gallery has represented Jono Rotman since 2013.
Self portrait, 2021. Courtesy of the artist
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Disorder: 9 Uneven Angles, 2015 Cor-ten steel 8000 x 2103 x 1615mm Photography courtesy of Venet Studio
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Bernar Venet b. 1941, France
International artist Bernar Venet uses mathematics within his sculptural practice, producing works that revel in balanced sublimity. Working primarily in steel and across all size scales, he creates static and stoic forms of angles, arcs, and lines in a minimalist style. One of the most significant artists of his generation, his practice has made pioneering contributions to the field of sculpture globally. Bernar Venet, 2020. Photography by Laura Stevens
Gow Langsford Gallery has represented Bernar Venet since 2006. 111
Venet Foundation, Le Muy, France. Installation view. Photography courtesy of Venet Studio
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John Walsh b. 1954, Aotearoa New Zealand
John Walsh weaves a rich tapestry of Māori mythology and legend along with contemporary societal commentary in his figuratively based paintings. Working in a surrealist manner with oil paint, he paints intuitively, often not planning a composition but allowing it to unfold. This creates an ethereal mood and timelessness within his works, as legends past are encountered in new ways. Gow Langsford Gallery has represented John Walsh since 2001. 114
Dali and Company Pass Through the Pacific, 2016-2021 oil on canvas 950 x 2000mm
Wharewaka (detail), 2017 oil on unstretched canvas 1230 x 1820mm
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Grace Wright b. 1992, Aotearoa New Zealand
The body is a key part of Grace Wright’s large-scale abstract paintings. Initially this is in the physical labour of her body producing these gestures, but also in the experience of the viewers own body, as they stand before her work. The intense layering of abstract gesture and ground evokes a rhythm found in music and dance. Planes of deeps browns, greens, and blues—offset by bright pastel tones—evoke a surreal atmosphere that could be a historical painting or a fantasy videogame landscape. Baroque techniques such as chiaroscuro lighting and intense diagonal force results in paintings that feel representational yet are purely abstract. Gow Langsford Gallery has represented Grace Wright since 2020.
All That Shines In The Dark (detail), 2021 acrylic on canvas 900 x 1600mm
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Artist’s studio, 2020. Photography by Tobias Kraus
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Final Fantasy (detail), 2020 acrylic on linen 1800 x 3660mm
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About Gow Langsford Gallery
Gow Langsford is a commercial art gallery committed to fostering and promoting the best contemporary art from New Zealand and abroad. We represent a number of established and emerging artists, as well as offering key works from the secondary market. History The Gallery opened in Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland in 1987 as a joint venture between John Gow and Gary Langsford. Now in its fourth decade the Gallery has a long history of ambitious exhibitions and has established itself as a market leader in both the primary and secondary markets. Together Gow and Langsford pioneered the changing landscape of the New Zealand art scene and, while primarily focussed on Australasian work, the pair has enthusiastically sought to introduce local audiences to international art. Gow Langsford first exhibited at international art fairs in the 1990s and notwithstanding the pandemic, art fairs remain an important aspect of its exhibition schedule. From the outset, the Gallery has shown large-scale sculpture which has become an increasingly significant part of its program. Having worked at the Gallery since 2003, in 2020 Anna Jackson joined with Gow and Langsford becoming the third director. Jackson brings her own perspective and energy to the partnership. Judy Millar, Michael Hight and Dick Frizzell are some of the original artists that joined Gow Langsford Gallery in 1987. Karl Maughan, Max Gimblett, Paul Dibble and John Pule also joined in the first six years; and all are still represented. Alongside established artists the Gallery also continues to find and foster new talent. Through encouraging a greater understanding of each artist’s practice, Gow Langsford has produced many publications and monographs on gallery artists and continues to do so today.
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About People
John Gow - Director john@gowlangsfordgallery.co.nz
John Gow
Gary Langsford
With extensive experience advising private collectors and acting as a consultant to corporate collections, museums and public institutions, John Gow is an expert in New Zealand art. Along with Gary Langsford, John is a founding director of Gow Langsford Gallery and was director of John Leech Gallery. Now with over thirty years in the industry, John has specialist expertise in historical New Zealand art and indigenous artefacts and a personal interest in collecting 19th and early 20thcentury photography, contemporary New Zealand paintings and sculpture, and post-contact Maori objects.
Gary Langsford - Director gary@gowlangsfordgallery.co.nz
Anna Jackson
Priya Patel
Shona Irwin
Gary Langsford is a founding director of Gow Langsford Gallery and is also co-owner of design55, a design store specialising in limited edition furniture and objects. Gary has a Bachelor of Fine Arts (Sculpture) and Art History from Elam School of Fine Arts, and has worked as a specialist in contemporary New Zealand art for over three decades. Increasingly focussed on the global art market he travels frequently to art fairs and auctions abroad, particularly in Europe and America. He has specialist knowledge in 20th Century Applied Arts and has a significant personal collection of art, objet d’art and furniture that reflects this expertise.
Hannah Valentine
Anna Jackson - Director anna@gowlangsfordgallery.co.nz
Cassandra Thompson
Finn McCahon-Jones
Working closely with Gary and John, Anna manages the exhibition programme, staff, client services and Art Fairs. She oversees publications and online communications, and works alongside the artists in delivering exhibitions and events. Anna has a Master of Arts Management (2010) and a Bachelor of Visual Arts from Auckland University of Technology (2002). She joined as Director in 2020. Shona Irwin - Group Accountant shona@gowlangsfordgallery.co.nz Shona joined Gow Langsford Gallery in 2009 as Accountant. She is a member of the NZ Institute of Chartered Accountants.
Gabriella Stead
Imogen Cahill
Priya Patel - International Operations Manager priya@gowlangsfordgallery.co.nz As our International Operations Manager, Priya manages the logistics for the Gallery’s global affairs, including participation in Art Fairs as
well as managing domestic freight and gallery databases. She also works alongside the Directors to deliver client services. Priya has a Bachelor of Fine Arts and Arts (Hons), Elam School of Fine Arts (2011). Hannah Valentine - Head of Design/Senior Advisor hannah@gowlangsfordgallery.co.nz Hannah joined Gow Langsford in 2011. She holds a Master of Fine Arts from Elam School of Fine Arts (2017) and a conjoint Bachelor of Fine Arts and Arts (Hons), from the University of Auckland (2011). She works closely with the Directors preparing exhibitions and publications, and in client services and is the Gallery’s in-house designer. Cassandra Thompson - Front of House/Digital Content Manager cass@gowlangsfordgallery.co.nz Cass assists with the general running of the gallery in the Front of House position and also manages the gallery’s social media, website and e-commerce platform. Cass holds a Bachelor of Architectural Studies majoring in Interior Architecture (2011) and a Bachelor of Arts with a double major in Art History and Theory, and Classics (2015). Finn McCahon-Jones - Gallery Logistics (Part Time, Wednesday and Thursdays) info@gowlangfordgallery.co.nz Finn assists with gallery logistics and art freight. He recently graduated with a Bachelor of Arts (hons) in Art History from Auckland University; Finn has a Bachelor of Visual Arts from the Auckland University of Technology (2003); and over 15 years’ experience working in the museum and gallery sector. Gabriella Stead - Editor/Registrar gabriella@gowlangsfordgallery.co.nz As Gow Langsford’s in house Editor, Gabriella manages gallery writing, supporting the delivery of our PR and publications, while also writing artist and exhibition essays. Gabriella looks after the day to day running of the gallery, and works closely with the directors to deliver client services. Gabriella holds a BA HONS in Art History (2016). Imogen Cahill - Front of House Imogen@gowlangsfordgallery.co.nz Imogen works front of house, both aiding in the daily running of the gallery and assisting in the writing and editing of artist and exhibition texts. She also works with the Directors to provide client services. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Art History from The University of Auckland (2014) and recently graduated from University of the Arts London with a Master of Arts in cultural studies (2020).
Credits
First published in 2021 by Gow Langsford Gallery ISBN: 978-1-99-115781-2 Copyright © all authors and artists, 2021 All rights reserved Design by Hannah Valentine for Gow Langsford Gallery Printed by Blue Star, Auckland
Cover
Judy Millar Dusking (detail), 2020 2100 x 1550mm Photography by Sam Hartnett Endpages, front and back
James Cousins Untitled (detail), 2020 acrylic on canvas 1050 x 950mm Photography by Sam Hartnett Page 2
Katharina Grosse Chill Seeping from the Walls Gets between Us, 2021 acrylic on fabric, 1050 x 2100 x 2000cm; digital prints on recycled polyester, 1000 x 3252 x 2147cm. Photography by Hanna Kukorelli. Courtesy HAM Helsinki Art Museum, Gagosian, Galerie Nächst St. Stephan Rosemarie Schwarzwälder and König Galerie © Katharina Grosse and VG Bild-Kunst, Bonn, 2021 Right
Sara Hughes 26-4-2020, 2.21.58 pm (detail), 2019 acrylic on canvas 1200 x 900mm
Gow Langsford Gallery T: +64 9 303 4290 info@gowlangsfordgallery.co.nz www.gowlangsfordgallery.com Cnr. Kitchener and Wellesley Streets Auckland 1010, New Zealand
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