Story: Regional cultural life

Colin McCahon at the Auckland Art Gallery, 1963 (2nd of 2)

Colin McCahon at the Auckland Art Gallery, 1963

In 1953 Colin McCahon moved from Christchurch to Auckland, where he eventually obtained a job as keeper and deputy director of the Auckland Art Gallery. The director at the time was Peter Tomory, and together the two greatly encouraged the display of modernist and abstract painting. McCahon's work also moved in the direction of more abstraction. He is shown here in 1963 in the attic studio of the gallery with some of his own works – some strongly abstract images featuring gates, and others with his characteristic use of text. McCahon's presence in Auckland signalled the growing leadership of the city in modern painting in the late 1950s and 1960s. 

Using this item

Art Gallery of New South Wales
Reference: 79.2004
Photograph by David Moore, 1963

© Lisa, Karen, Michael, and Matthew Moore

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Courtesy of David Moore Photography

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How to cite this page:

Pip Howells, 'Regional cultural life - Flourishing regional cultures, 1945 to 2000', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/photograph/44496/colin-mccahon-at-the-auckland-art-gallery-1963 (accessed 29 March 2024)

Story by Pip Howells, published 22 Oct 2014