Unpacked – Treasures from Te Papa

More Te Papa art treasures on display in Whangarei

Whangarei Art Museum is set to unveil the last two works of this season’s Unpacked – Treasures from Te Papa.

The first, Peter Stichbury’s Chester Karnofsky, 2004, is on October 23rd, and offers a contemporary twist on the painted portrait.

Peter Stichbury (1969–), New Zealand, Chester Karnofsky 2004, acrylic on linen. Purchased 2005 (2005-0004-1)

Peter Stichbury (1969–), New Zealand, Chester Karnofsky 2004, acrylic on linen. Purchased 2005 (2005-0004-1)

Peter Stichbury

Peter Stichbury is a contemporary artist who graduated from Elam School of Fine Arts in Auckland in 1997 and won New Zealand’s prestigious Wallace Art Awards the same year.

He is currently represented by Michael Lett in Auckland and Tracy Williams, Ltd, in New York.

Te Papa’s Historical New Zealand Art Curator, Dr Rebecca Rice says, “Peter Stichbury is a contemporary artist with an international profile whose work explores the strangeness of beauty.”

Of this painting she says “Like many of the people in Peter Stichbury’s portraits, Chester appears doll-like, with quirky facial features, large eyes, and exaggerated lips.”

“The portrait leaves us guessing – imagining pasts, presents, and futures for this boy who is eternally stuck in time,” says Dr Rice.