Insight into a Private Collection

Zimmerman is delighted to feature this month selected works from the collection of local art enthusiast, Barry Pilcher. We hope this insight into a “real person’s” collection will be of assistance to you in deciding how to begin, or expand, an art collection of your own – and we’re happy to help with any questions you may have.

Who is Barry Pilcher? By day, Barry Pilcher is a dedicated taxation advisor, with a knack for numbers and a longstanding list of personal clients. But outside business hours, Barry indulges in his (not so secret) passion – viewing, researching and acquiring works by emerging and established contemporary New Zealand artists. With a collection in excess of 200 works, Barry’s home is a visual testament to his passion for collecting, and his love of what’s fresh and new in New Zealand art.

When did Barry start collecting art? Barry started “seriously” collecting art after viewing the Paul Dibble major Survey Exhibition at the Manawatu Art Gallery (Te Manawa) in 2001. His subsequent purchase of a work from Dibble’s Calici Smile series is the point Barry identifies as the real beginning of his art collection.

How did Barry go forward from there? Barry enthusiastically attended art openings and exhibitions, viewing a range of artworks, and meeting a number of gallery owners and artists in the process. He subscribed to art magazines, and would look out for exhibitions by those artists whose works most appealed to him. By actively viewing, discussing and researching the art that piqued his interest, Barry quickly established the base on which to build his own unique art collection.

Which of Barry’s works are on display at Zimmerman? The works on display at Zimmerman are all by artists who have won either a Paramount or Runner Up Award at the Wallace Art Awards. (The Wallace awards lay claim to being New Zealand’s longest surviving and largest annual art awards of their kind). Barry’s own art collection includes work by the following Wallace Art Award winners:

Paramount Award Winners:
• Sam Mitchell (2010)
• James Robinson (2007)
• Rohan Wealleans (2006)
• Sara Hughes (2005)
• Judy Millar (2002)
• Gregor Kregar (2000)
• Fatu Feu’u (1995)
• Bill Hammond (1994)

Runner Up Award Winners:
• Matthew Couper (2008)
• Liyen Chong (2008)
• Andrea du Chatenier (2007)
• Heather Straka (2006)
• Andrew McLeod (2006)
• Robert McLeod (2005)
• Rueben Paterson (2005)

Does Barry have any tips for budding art collectors? Barry suggests that budding collectors attend exhibition openings and student graduation exhibitions. “It’s exciting to follow an up-and-coming artist’s career and they really appreciate you taking an interest in their work.” Barry also follows the annual Wallace Art Award exhibition, and attends the bi-annual Auckland Art Fair. “The Auckland Art Fair gives you the opportunity to see work by artists from throughout New Zealand, and also from some Australian Galleries.”

And this, perhaps, is the key to how Barry has so quickly built such an impressive art collection – Barry is a person who is genuinely interested in the art he collects, and in the artists who created it. We hope you will call into Zimmerman this month to view a selection of his collected works.