Grad Show marks 125 years of Elam
The public can glimpse the future direction of contemporary art at the Elam Grad Show taking place next weekend, with
this year’s open days marking the 125th anniversary of the country’s most revered art school.
The annual exhibition features a diverse range of artwork by BFA, BFA(Hons), PGDipFA and MFA students including
painting, sculpture, printmaking, photography, installation, moving image, performance and new media.
The School has an enviable reputation for producing New Zealand’s leading artists. Graduate Simon Denny represented New
Zealand this year at the Venice Biennale - one of the world’s most prestigious art events - ahead of a UK survey of his
work at the Serpentine Gallery, and graduate Lisa Reihana has recently been named as New Zealand’s representative for
the 2017 Venice Biennale.
Elam students are also taught by the country’s leading contemporary artists, including Michael Parekowhai and Peter
Robinson, who have both previously been New Zealand’s representatives at Venice.
“The Elam Graduate Show has long been one of the highlights of the Auckland arts calendar, says Elam Head of School,
Associate Professor Peter Shand.
I am very excited by and proud of what Elam’s graduating students are presenting this year. Their work gives insight
into current contemporary art practices and points strongly to its future directions. The range of media, areas of
concern and the ambition on display is impressive and bodes well for the future of art in New Zealand.
I am sure that a number of this year’s Elam graduates will go on to forge significant careers both at home and overseas.
It is very clear from the work of our students why Elam is the country’s most prestigious art school.”
The 2015 Elam Graduate Show
10am-4pm,
Saturday 28 and Sunday 29 November,
Elam School of Fine Arts: 20 Whitaker Place, 5 Symonds Street (Elam B) and 25a Princes Street (George Fraser Gallery),
the University of Auckland.
For more information visit www.creative.auckland.ac.nz
The University of Auckland’s National Institute of Creative Arts and Industries comprises the Elam School of Fine Arts,
School of Architecture and Planning, the Centre for Art Studies, the School of Music and the Dance Studies Programme.
ENDS