Artistic Influencers

Rita Angus

Fine Arts 1933

Considered one of the leading figures in twentieth century New Zealand art, Rita Angus was a committed feminist and pacifist with her world view deeply entwined within her work. A pioneer of modern painting and perhaps best known for her oil and watercolour portraits and artworks depicting Central Otago, Rita began her artist journey studying at the Canterbury College School of Art. Before becoming a working artist, she worked as a teacher, and illustrator for The Press. “As a woman painter, I work to represent love of humanity and faith in mankind in a world, which is to me, richly viable and infinitely beautiful”. 

Sir Derek Lardelli KNZM

DipT 1986, BFA 1986, MFA 2009

Sir Derek Lardelli (Ngāti Porou, Rongowhakaata) is regarded as one of Aotearoa New Zealand’s pre-eminent Maori Artists. A leader in the revival of tā moko, he is also a kapahaka exponent, composer, designer, keeper of oral and written histories and an exceptional orator. He composed the All Blacks haka Kapa O Pango. Based in Gisborne, as Professor Ahorangi at Toihoukura, School of Māori Visual Arts he has championed successful outcomes using Māori learning principles.  In 2004 he received a NZ Arts Foundation Laureate, and amongst other awards and distinctions, Sir Derek was Knighted in 2020 for services to Māori Arts.

Dame Ngaio Marsh DBE

LittD 1962

A writer during the ‘golden age’ of detective fiction Dame Ngaio Marsh, known as one of the ‘Queens of Crime’, is perhaps best known for her 32 novels about London detective, Inspector Roderick Alleyn. Her great passion was theatre, and her modernised production of Hamlet, performed by what is now known as DramaSoc, was met with acclaim – leading her to form a travelling student theatre company. Ngaio was appointed a Dame in 1966 for services to the arts. Her legacy is alive with the Ngaio Marsh Award being presented annually for the best New Zealand mystery, crime and thriller fiction, and with the theatre in Haere-Roa (UCSA building) also being named in her honour.

Gavin Bishop ONZM

DipFA 1967, Teacher’s College Diploma (Distinction) 1968, DipFA (Hons) 1968, DEd 2016

A children’s picture book author and artist of international and local reputation, Gavin Bishop has successfully published 70 books that have been translated into twelve languages, earning him numerous awards – including the Kingi Ihaka Award in 2018 and the Prime Minister’s Award in 2019. His distinctive ink and watercolour illustrations have seen Gavin shortlisted for NZ book awards more times than any other author of any kind. A guest lecturer at the Rhode Island School of Design in 1996, he is widely travelled and has been a guest author and speaker through UNESCO in Japan, China, Indonesia and the USA. In 2013 Gavin was appointed an Officer of the Order of Merit of New Zealand.

Teddy Rhodes

BCom 1990

Quickly establishing an international career on both the opera stage and concert platform, bass-baritone Teddy Tahu Rhodes has always had a love for music and performance. Crediting his years at UC as pivotal in setting him on the path to a career in music, Teddy has since performed in international opera companies across the United States, Europe and the UK. Throughout his career, Teddy has taken home an ARIA Award, two Helpmann Awards, the Limelight Award, a Green Room Award plus a MO Award (Operatic Performer of the Year). When looking at past productions and opportunities, Teddy reveals it is, “A humbling experience; to be a small part of the history of a piece of music and theatre.”

Allen Curnow ONZ CBE

LittD 1975

Recognised as one of the most influential and defining voices of New Zealand literature in the 20th century, Allen Curnow’s reputation as a poet and author stands to this day. Between 1937 and 1988, he published 2250 satirical (and very topical) verses in The Press and The New Zealand Herald, under the penname ‘Whim Wham’. Alongside his satire, Allen published 21 volumes of poems, seven of which received New Zealand’s annual Book Award for Poetry. Awarded the Commonwealth Poetry Prize in 1988, the Queen's Gold Medal for Poetry in 1989 and the Cholmondley Award in 1992, Allen was also appointed Commander of the Order of the British Empire in 1986 and to the Order of New Zealand in 1990.

Photo credit: Auckland Libraries Heritage Collections: 34-81 (Clifton Firth)

Doreen Blumhardt ONZ DNZM CBE

Christchurch Training College 1939

A passionate ceramist and arts educator, Dame Doreen Blumhardt was one of the most important figures in New Zealand’s arts and crafts world. In 1957 she was one of 15 potters invited to show in New Zealand’s first national pottery exhibition, before co-founding the New Zealand Potter Magazine in 1958. Widely exhibited and in a life crowded with achievement, Doreen used her role in the New Zealand arts community to create the Blumhardt Foundation in 2003, supporting and nurturing the collection and development of craft/object art in NZ. In 2007, Doreen was made a member of New Zealand’s highest honour, the Order of New Zealand.

Dame Louise Henderson DBE

DipFA 1931

Born in France, Dame Louise Henderson emigrated and settled in Canterbury when she was 23 years old. Relishing the freedom and opportunities afforded to her here, Louise was attracted to the natural and urban landscapes she is still known for depicting today. By the mid-20th century, Louise was disrupting the arts scene in Aotearoa by utilising a distinctively international and modernist style. Well-travelled, Louise painted throughout the world including back in her native France, Lebanon and Iraq. She was an active painter well into her eighties and a year before her death in 1994, she was appointed a Dame (DBE) for her services to art.