Denis O'Connor (New Zealand sculptor)

Denis O'Connor (born 1947) is a New Zealand ceramicist, sculptor and writer who has exhibited both in New Zealand and internationally.[1]

Education

edit

O'Connor studied at the Wellington Polytechnic School of Design and the University of Otago.[2][3]

Career

edit

O'Connor's early work was made using white porcelain and the iron-rich clay which he found near his studio on Waiheke Island. In 1985 he was awarded the Frances Hodgkins Fellowship at Otago University, and during his tenure he switched to using limestone. More recently he has incorporated found objects and has started to use black slate, which has introduced a more minimalist aesthetic.[2]

Residencies

edit

He has held international residencies including:[1]

  • Frances Hodgkins Fellowship, Otago University (1985)[2]
  • Moet and Chandon Fellowship, Champagne, France (1996)
  • Rathcoola Fellowship, Cork, Ireland (2005)
  • Blumhardt Foundation Residency in Gulgong, New South Wales, Australia (2016), (2017–18)

Public commissions and collections

edit
 
Raupō Rap (2005) on the Auckland waterfront

O'Connor has had many prestigious commissions, and his works are held in a large number of public collections including:[4]

Publications

edit

O'Connor has produced several written works to accompany his major exhibitions:

  • Songs of the gulf 1984 [12]
  • The Gorse King 1992 [13]
  • Big aitche little aitche 2000 [4]
  • What the roof dreamt 2007 [14]

References

edit
  1. ^ a b "Denis O'Connor". Two Rooms. Retrieved 28 September 2020.
  2. ^ a b c d Dunn, Michael, 1942– (2008). New Zealand sculpture : a history. Auckland University Press. pp. 100–101. ISBN 978-1-86940-425-3. OCLC 1164063154.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  3. ^ a b "Maungarei Eavesdrop". artcollection.auckland.ac.nz. Retrieved 28 September 2020.
  4. ^ a b Big aitche little aitche. O'Connor, Denis, Gow Langsford Gallery (Auckland, N.Z.). Auckland, N.Z.: Aitche Books. 2000. ISBN 0-473-06931-8. OCLC 154706265.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: others (link)
  5. ^ Live, Auckland. "Aotea Cartouche". Auckland Live. Retrieved 12 October 2020.
  6. ^ O'Connor, Denis. "Hourglass". Retrieved 28 September 2020.
  7. ^ "Denis O'Connor". Auckland Art Gallery. Retrieved 28 September 2020.
  8. ^ "Keelstone-Denis O'Connor-Connells Bay Sculpture Park". Janet Davis Explores Colour. 12 February 2018. Retrieved 28 September 2020.
  9. ^ Council, Auckland. "Raupō Rap". Auckland Council. Retrieved 28 September 2020.
  10. ^ Sutton, Frances, 1945– (September 2015). Art & about : a pocket guide to Wellington's public art. Fierlinger, Helena (Second ed.). Wellington, Aotearoa New Zealand. pp. 56–57. ISBN 978-1-927242-83-4. OCLC 919498890.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link) CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  11. ^ "Wellington Sculpture Trust | The Sculptures". www.sculpture.org.nz. Retrieved 28 September 2020.
  12. ^ O'Connor, Denis (1984). Songs of the gulf : Denis O'Connor. Auckland City Art Gallery, Silverfish. Auckland: Auckland City Art Gallery. ISBN 0-86463-117-0. OCLC 20442879.
  13. ^ "The Gorse King" (PDF). Christchurch City Art Gallery. Retrieved 12 October 2020.
  14. ^ O'Connor, Denis, 1947– (2007). What the roof dreamt. O'Brien, Gregory, 1961–, Strongman, Lara., Two Rooms (Gallery). Waiheke, N.Z.: Aitche Books. ISBN 978-0-473-12115-0. OCLC 174083323.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)