Prior Collection Paintings

Ian and Elespie Prior spent 56 years assembling a collection of paintings by New Zealand artists with whom they maintained personal associations over many years. Dr Ian Prior is remembered for his pioneering epidemiological studies, as a founding member of the New Zealand branch of International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War, and for his involvement in environmental and cultural issues.

Jolene Douglas, our Exhibitions Curator, has selected 27 works from the Prior Collection. The Priors demonstrated a preference for figurative and landscape works over abstract painting and Jolene has respected this in her selection of works for this exhibition.

At the heart of the exhibition are four groups of paintings by Evelyn Page (1899-1988), Toss Woollaston (1910-1998), John Drawbridge (1930-2005) and Jeffery Harris (1949-). Ranging from Page’s richly coloured portraits to Woollaston’s vigorous elemental landscapes and from Drawbridge’s technically refined abstracted landscapes to Jeffery Harris’ bold figurative works, this exhibition provides something for everyone and provides a wide sweep across New Zealand painting.

Other artists represented in the exhibition are Doris Lusk, Oliver Spencer Bower, Stanley Palmer, Colin McCahon, Anna Caselberg, Gordon Crook, Ralph Hotere, Pat Hanly, Eric Lee Johnson and Douglas McDiarmid.

These works from the Prior Collection are on loan from Aratoi (Wairarapa Museum of Art and History, Masterton). In 2009 Aratoi also loaned us a selection of paintings from the Rutherford Trust Collection. We acknowledge the support of the Director and staff of Aratoi in facilitating these loans.