Jeffrey Harris
Encyclopedia
Jeffrey Harris is a New Zealand artist. Harris started his career in Christchurch
, moving to Dunedin
, New Zealand
in 1969. In the early 1980s he worked briefly in the United States, before moving to Melbourne
, Australia
in 1986. In 2000 he returned to Dunedin, where he still lives. Largely self-taught, but mentored by notable New Zealand artists such as Michael Smither
and Ralph Hotere
, he has painted full-time since 1970.
Harris's works are mainly large expressionistic canvases depicting family groups in daily situations. These works, based to a large extent on the artist's own life, often have strong symbolic meanings for the artist. From the mid 1980s until the turn of the century, Harris began producing powerful monochromatic abstracts - these works coincided with the period when Harris was working in Australia. Since his return to Dunedin, Harris's work has turned back to his earlier figurative styles, though often concentrating more on religious iconography rather than domestic scenes.
's 1977 Frances Hodgkins Fellow
, and in 2003, was the winner of the James Wallace Art Award, New Zealand's top art award. This award's prize included a one-year residency
A book on Harris's art, by Justin Paton (simply titled Jeffrey Harris) was a finalist in the 2006 Montana New Zealand Book Awards
. This was accompanied by a major retrospective exhibition which toured five of New Zealand's major public galleries from 2004 to 2006.
Christchurch
Christchurch is the largest city in the South Island of New Zealand, and the country's second-largest urban area after Auckland. It lies one third of the way down the South Island's east coast, just north of Banks Peninsula which itself, since 2006, lies within the formal limits of...
, moving to Dunedin
Dunedin
Dunedin is the second-largest city in the South Island of New Zealand, and the principal city of the Otago Region. It is considered to be one of the four main urban centres of New Zealand for historic, cultural, and geographic reasons. Dunedin was the largest city by territorial land area until...
, New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
in 1969. In the early 1980s he worked briefly in the United States, before moving to Melbourne
Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
in 1986. In 2000 he returned to Dunedin, where he still lives. Largely self-taught, but mentored by notable New Zealand artists such as Michael Smither
Michael Smither
Michael Duncan Smither, CNZM is a New Zealand painter and composer.He was born in New Plymouth and was educated at New Plymouth Boys' High School and Elam School of Fine Arts, Auckland...
and Ralph Hotere
Ralph Hotere
Hone Papita Raukura "Ralph" Hotere is a New Zealand artist of Māori descent . He was born in Mitimiti, Northland and He is widely regarded as one of New Zealand's most important living artists...
, he has painted full-time since 1970.
Harris's works are mainly large expressionistic canvases depicting family groups in daily situations. These works, based to a large extent on the artist's own life, often have strong symbolic meanings for the artist. From the mid 1980s until the turn of the century, Harris began producing powerful monochromatic abstracts - these works coincided with the period when Harris was working in Australia. Since his return to Dunedin, Harris's work has turned back to his earlier figurative styles, though often concentrating more on religious iconography rather than domestic scenes.
Honours and awards
Harris was the University of OtagoUniversity of Otago
The University of Otago in Dunedin is New Zealand's oldest university with over 22,000 students enrolled during 2010.The university has New Zealand's highest average research quality and in New Zealand is second only to the University of Auckland in the number of A rated academic researchers it...
's 1977 Frances Hodgkins Fellow
Frances Hodgkins Fellowship
The Frances Hodgkins Fellowship, established in 1962, is one of New Zealand's premier arts residencies. The list of past fellows includes many of New Zealand's most notable artists.The position is based at the University of Otago in Dunedin, New Zealand...
, and in 2003, was the winner of the James Wallace Art Award, New Zealand's top art award. This award's prize included a one-year residency
A book on Harris's art, by Justin Paton (simply titled Jeffrey Harris) was a finalist in the 2006 Montana New Zealand Book Awards
Montana New Zealand Book Awards
The New Zealand Post Book Awards are a series of literary awards to works of New Zealand citizens. They were created in 1996, as a merge of the two previously most relevant awards in New Zealand: the Montana Book Awards and the New Zealand Book Awards...
. This was accompanied by a major retrospective exhibition which toured five of New Zealand's major public galleries from 2004 to 2006.
See also
- Paton, J. (2006) Jeffrey Harris. Wellington: Victoria University Press.
- Works by Jeffrey Harris in the collection of the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa
- Gallery of Harris's art
- Milford Galleries' Jeffrey Harris page