Rita Angus works coming to Stratford gallery
A selection of works by Rita Angus, one of New Zealand’s most iconic artists, is coming to Taranaki.
Twenty works from Te Papa’s summer exhibition – Rita Angus: New Zealand Modernist/he Ringatoi Hou o Aotearoa will be on show at the Percy Thomson Gallery in Stratford from April 27 to June 23.
The paintings span Angus’ life and career as an artist, drawing out the themes of pacifism, feminism and nature that shaped much of her work.
Percy Thomson Gallery director Laura Campbell said hosting the exhibition in Taranaki was a coup for the gallery.
“It’s pretty big, it’s probably one of the most important collections to tour the country for quite some time.”
“It’s quite extraordinary, we’re the last stop on the tour, it’s spectacular to have it here.”
The exhibition was intended to tell Angus’ story.
“It has a good narrative, starting with her early works and progressing through to the last works she completed before her death, there is a lot of variety and you’ll see a lot of progress and differences as she went through her career.”
The exhibition includes many of Angus’ most important works, including Rutu, 1951, Cleopatra, 1938, and Central Otago, 1953 56/1969.
It will also feature two significant recent acquisitions.
Marjorie Marshall (1938-39/1943) is a remarkable portrait of Angus’ friend and fellow artist Marshall, set against the backdrop of Central Otago mountains.
The Aviatrix (1933) is one of Angus’ most important early works – a striking portrait of her sister Edna, the first woman pilot in the East Coast Aero Club, wearing her flying costume.
Te Papa’s curator of modern art, Lizzie Bisley, will present a floor talk about Rita Angus’ work and life at the Percy Thomson Gallery on June 13 as part of the Taranaki Arts Festival Trust’s Winterfest 2024.
Alongside a full catalogue, Rita Angus: New Zealand Modernist, Te Papa Press also published a new edition of Jill Trevelyan’s award-winning book, Rita Angus: An Artist’s Life in April 2021.
Campbell said the exhibition was sponsored by Singapore Airlines, and visitors to each exhibition are invited to enter a competition to win two return tickets to Singapore.