Paul Dibble (1943-2023) was a New Zealand sculptor celebrated for his mastery in bronze. Born in Thames and raised on a farm in Waitakaruru on the Hauraki Plains, he later studied at the Elam School of Fine Arts in Auckland where he was influenced by European modernism. Dibble’s work often blends symbols and imagery from the Pacific and Aotearoa with elements of European art history. He is best known for his large-scale public sculptures, including the New Zealand War Memorial in London. Dibble’s pieces are characterized by organic curves, rich patinas, and a sense of balance. His subjects frequently include native wildlife and plants, such as the huia and kōwhai. Dibble’s influence extended far beyond his sculptures. As a lecturer at the Palmerston North College of Education and Massey University, WAITAKARURU - WHERE THE OWL SITS ON THE WATER (2003) Paul Dibble Bronze & Granite he mentored many young artists, fostering a new generation of talent.
Throughout his career, Dibble received numerous accolades, including being appointed a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit in 2005. His legacy continues through the Dibble foundry, which still produces his works using the same techniques and materials
Stephen Woodward (1957) born in Montreal, Canada, and based in New Zealand since 1986 works with a diverse range of media, including ceramics, bronze, stone, and volcanic basalt. His work is deeply political, critiquing human nature and our need to overlay everything with notions of identity, productivity, and settlement. “I present landscape and landforms as images to critique human nature; our need to overlay everything with notions of identity, or productivity or settlement. The consequences are environmental and these consequences issue from nationalism, greed, ignorance and sometimes from culture or love”.
Woodward studied Fine Arts at Concordia University. He honed his skills in marble carving in Italy, working alongside artisans for renowned artists such as César Baldaccini and Michelangelo Pistoletto. Since moving to New Zealand, he has focused on large-scale, site-specific works and has exhibited internationally in countries like China, Japan, Taiwan, Canada, and New Caledonia.
Andrea Gardner (1953) and Brit Bunkley (1955) are both New Zealand based artists known for their innovative and thought-provoking works.
Andrea Gardner originally from California, is a photographer and sculptor based in Whanganui. Her work explores the complex relationship between humans, animals, and the landscape, often drawing on themes of Romanticism, fairy tales, and ecological concerns. Gardner's staged photography and mixed media sculptures have been exhibited widely in New Zealand and are held in numerous public collections.
Brit Bunkley , born in New York City, is a New Zealand/U.S. artist whose practice includes sculpture, installation, and digital media. His work often addresses existential anxieties and apocalyptic fears, blending whimsy and irony. Bunkley has received several prestigious awards, including the Rome Prize Fellowship and the National Endowment for the Arts fellowship. His installations and sculptures have been showcased internationally, including at the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa and the Moscow Museum of Modern Art
Terry Stringer (1946) born in Redruth, Cornwall, England, is a celebrated New Zealand sculptor known for his distinctive bronze works. He moved to New Zealand and graduated with honours from the Elam School of Fine Arts in 1967 and has since become a prominent figure in the New Zealand art scene.
Stringer’s sculptures are renowned for their intricate faceting and juxtaposition of forms, often reflecting influences from classical art and cubism. His notable public commissions include The Risen Christ in Christchurch’s Cathedral Square, Mountain Fountain at Auckland’s Holy Trinity Cathedral, and The World Grasped in Newmarket.
In 2001, Stringer established the Zealandia Sculpture Garden at his home in Mahurangi, which showcases his works alongside those of other sculptors. His contributions to art have been recognized with numerous awards, including the prestigious Queen Elizabeth II Arts Council Scholarship, which he received four times. In 2003, he was appointed an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit for his services to sculpture.
Andrew de Boer (1960) is known for his innovative and thought-provoking works. De Boer's artistic journey over the past 30 years is marked by his exploration of conceptual art, aiming to transcend the mind and bring forth art grounded in "the Good, the True, and the Beautiful"
His work was included in the biennial review of art at Te Papa Tongarewa in 1994 and has work held in collections such as the Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki and The Arts House Trust.
Scott Eady (1972), born in Auckland and now based in Dunedin, is known for his large-scale, thought-provoking works. Eady's sculptures often challenge and confound expectations, blending humour and sardonic wit. His sculptures explore the medium's history and its place in public and gallery spaces, often creating a tense yet engaging relationship with viewers.
Eady's practice emphasizes the encounter between the artwork and its audience, making his sculptures not just objects to be viewed but experiences to be encountered.
Eady's work was exhibited at the 2013 Venice Biennale and is held in national collections such as the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa.
Eady holds a Master of Fine Arts from the Elam School of Fine Arts and he currently serves as a Senior Lecturer in Sculpture at the Dunedin School of Art at Otago Polytechnic
Pat Foster (1943-2004), born in Timaru, was a sculptor working with a variety of materials, with a special affinity for stone and wood. Growing up in a family of artists, with her grandmother May Bradley and mother Myra Vance both being sculptors, Foster was immersed in the creative arts from a young age. She developed an ability to convey complex emotions and narratives through her practice, expressing emotional depth whilst exploring the human experience. She compared the sculpting process to facilitating the birth of an image that is ‘screaming to get out’.
Her works often feature figures that convey a sense of introspection and connection to the earth, such as her piece Standing Mother and Child, which explores themes of femininity and neediness. She frequently uses materials like Nelson marble and serpentine, which add a tactile quality to her sculptures.
Foster has participated in numerous national exhibitions, and her works are included in international collections. The Aigantighe Art Gallery and sculpture garden in Timaru holds a large collection of her work
Brett Graham (1967), born in Auckland and now based in Waiuku, is widely recognised as one of New Zealand's most influential contemporary artists and is highly regarded for his ability to abstract complex historical and cultural ideas into formally strong and beautiful sculptural forms. Brett places strong emphasis on materiality and surface. He is celebrated for his large-scale artworks and installations that delve into the histories of imperialism and global indigenous issues. Of Ngāti Korokī Kahukura and Pākehā descent, Brett’s work is deeply rooted in his Māori heritage, which he skilfully weaves into his art to create powerful narratives.
Educated at the University of Auckland and the Treasures in the Landscape University of Hawaii, Brett holds a Doctor of Fine Arts degree, which has significantly influenced his approach to sculpture. His work often features strong, abstract forms that are both visually striking and rich in cultural significance.
Brett’s art has been showcased in prestigious international exhibitions, including the Venice Biennale and the Biennale of Sydney, highlighting his global impact. His sculptures are not just art objects but conversations about identity, history, and the environment.
Hannah Kidd (1979) born in Christchurch and now based in Metvhen, is known for her unique and imaginative works crafted from steel rod and corrugated iron. Graduating from the Otago Polytechnic School of Art in 2001 with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Sculpture, Kidd has quickly risen to critical acclaim. Her sculptures, often life-size or larger, explore human and animal subjects, their interactions, and their surrounding environments. She uses her art to explore the human condition, often infusing her pieces with a sense of humour and whimsy. Her ability to transform rough, industrial materials into organic, lifelike forms has earned her a dedicated following.
Kidd's work has been exhibited internationally, including in Vienna, Australia, and Denmark. She has received several awards, such as the Montalto Sculpture Award in Australia and the People's Choice Award at NZ Sculpture OnShore.
Nic Moon (1968) based in Nelson, is a multidisciplinary artist and her practice includes sculpture, painting, and photography. Moon graduated with a Bachelor of Fine Arts from the University of Canterbury in 1990 and a Master of Fine Arts from RMIT University, Melbourne in 2002. Her work often reflects her deep connection to nature and ecological concerns. Growing up near the Hunua Ranges, Moon developed a profound appreciation for the environment, which has become a central theme in her art.
Moon’s sculptures are known for their thoughtful integration of natural materials and their ability to evoke a sense of place and history.
Moon has been involved in numerous public art projects, collaborating with local communities, architects, and environmental groups to create art that resonates with the public and enhances communal spaces. Her dedication to ecological and conservation issues has made her a leading figure in the eco-art movement in New Zealand.