Growing up in Auckland and attending the University of Auckland’s Elam School of Fine Arts Brydee graduated in 1999 with Bachelors in the top of the painting section.

In 2001 the world was this artist’s oyster and she moved to Japan undertaking what she describes as “my own residency” - living in Japan for 2 years as a registered alien, teaching to support her studio practice and exhibiting locally. In 2003 travelling to Mexico she undertook a similar self initiated program concluding a substantial solo exhibition Fresco at Galeria de Arte Joven, Difocur - Centro Cultural Genaro Estrada, Culiacan before returning to New Zealand and completing a Masters degree in interdisciplinary practice at Elam in 2006.

Dedicated to exploring relationships and collaborations with fellow artists Brydee is a member of various groups and projects such as ground roots collective Nature’s Ninja’s and ‘Hello Lamb Project’. The artist states “It is my aim to sow the seeds of collaboration and exchange into the future and enjoy the undercurrents of ideas and friendship between the participating artists”. (more…)

Auckland based artist Paul Radford studied at the School of Fine Arts Auckland and has exhibited throughout New Zealand for over 30 years. His body of work references both Pacific and modernist traditions. The mask-like heads bring to mind both Pacific Island totem figures and Brancusi-esque forms in a manner which welcomes exploration and interpretation. Repeatedly Radford’s blank faces lack distinguishing facial features but despite this, the forms evoke character and emotion through shade and painterly texture.

With a rich working history in commercial and set design as well an established grounding in fine arts practice, Radford is a technically virtuous painter whose work experiments with the nature of aesthetics of nature and visual knowledge. (more…)

Born in Tokyo, Kazu Nakagawa came to New Zealand in 1987, bringing with him a set of traditional Japanese cabinetmaker’s tools. His extraordinary skill at working with wood, immense patience and willingness to spend whatever it takes to achieve perfection have created some incredible works of art (see here).

Nakagawa has exhibited at previous headland SCULPTURE ON THE GULF exhibitions and is himself a Waiheke Island local. For further information, visit www.kazunakagawa.com

Here are a few more of the incredible sculptures from headland SCULPTURE ON THE GULF 2003 - For the full set of 2003 Sculptures, click here

Neil Dawson - Jive Ball	Kazu Nakagawa - 'Dreams' dreams
Paul Cullen - Observatory	Jeff Thompson - Waiheke Show Home

Look out for Kazu Nakagawa, Paul Cullen and Jeff Thmpson’s work as they return next year for the 2009 headland SCULPTURE ON THE GULF

Nic Moon graduated with an MFA from RMIT University Melbourne in 2002, and a BFA Canterbury University 1990. Her work employs developments of the modern industial age, using objects like large 3 metre long, commercial-scale saw blades, and turning them on themselves. As she sets to work on them with a plasma cutter they become the victims of their own function. By cutting into the saw blades she transforms them into decorative objects with a serious message. Hers is a comment on deforestation and the impact of her material on the environment. (more…)

Artist Gill Gatfield, lives her days in Whangaporaoa and holds both a Bachelor of Laws, and Masters of Fine Arts from The University of Auckland. She is a multi-media artist working across disciplines and exploring new media and processes in conceptual painting and abstract sculpture.

With a background in policy and law reform, Gill has developed an open, investigative approach to art-making and art practice. Predominantly self-taught, she began exhibiting abstract text and landscape paintings in 1999. Three years later, she gained entry to the University of Auckland Elam Masters programme, studying painting, installation and sculpture. (more…)

As I look ahead with excitement to the 2009 exhibition, I thought I’d take this chance to highlight some of the spectacular artworks that have made headland SCULPTURE ON THE GULF New Zealand’s premier outdoor sculpture exhibition. Here are a just a few of the artworks from 2003 - I’ll be posting more in the coming weeks, so stay tuned.

Aiko Groot - Gravity Dreams

Graham Bennett - Fixing Positions

Phil Price - Cytoplasm

Graham Bennett is a graduate of The University of Canterbury, School of Fine Arts and College of Education. Born in Nelson, and now living in Christchurch, Graham has exhibited an extensive array of work both in New Zealand and Overseas.

This is the second time Graham has exhibited at headland SCULPTURE ON THE GULF, and we once again look forward to seeing what creative artworks result.

To find out more about headland SCULPTURE ON THE GULF artist, Graham Bennett check out his website (more…)