RICHARD LEWER, born in Hamilton in 1970 and currently living in Melbourne, graduated BFA from Elam School of Fine Arts, Auckland University, in 1992 and MVA from Victoria College of the Arts, University of Melbourne in 2000. He has explored a diverse range of sometimes rather unexpected media, including canvas, stainless steel, aluminium, sheepskin, paper on clipboard, sandpaper, pegboard, Formica and concrete.
Lewer’s paintings can verge on the mysterious, and his drawing is variously challenging, disturbing, quotidien and beautiful, sometimes simultaneously. He is driven to pursue an exploration of his own psyche and events from his past rather than to paint to an audience or market, which marks him out as being an interesting artist to watch. Lewer won the Waikato Trust Art Award in 2006 and, in 2008, was the Paramount Wallace Art Award winner, and the artist in residence at McCahon House, Titirangi, West Auckland. The full list of awards he has won is:
2010:
Mornington Peninsula Drawing Prize, Mornington Peninsula Regional Gallery, Victoria
Australia Council Grant, New Work Established
Finalist, Basil Sellers Art Prize, Ian Potter Museum of Art, Melbourne
Finalist, Fletcher Jones Geelong Art Award, Geelong
2009:
Maddocks Venice Art Award, Melbourne
2008:
Wallace Art Paramount Award, Auckland
Finalist, Basil Sellers Art Prize, Ian Potter Museum of Art, Melbourne
2007:
Arts Victoria Development Grant, Creation
2D, Norsewear Art Award, Hastings
2006:
National Painting and Printmaking Award, WSA, Hamilton
GALLERIES
Orexart, Auckland
Hugo Michell Gallery, Adelaide
Fehily Contemporary, Melbourne
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Contemporary New Zealand Art 5, by Elizabeth Caughey (David Bateman, 2008)
“Resident Evil”, D. Rainforth, Art New Zealand, Spring-Summer 2004
“An Expatriate: Richard Lewer”, Adam Art Gallery, WGTN, 4/11/04
“In Between”, Enjoy Project Space, WGTN, 3/11/04
“Exorcising the Demons”, Linda Herrick, Canvas, New Zealand Herald, AKL, 23/10/04
“Burning Bright in the Mind”, T.J. McNamara, New Zealand Herald, AKL, 12/06/03
“Skin”, T. Rodwell, PULP Magazine, NZ, Autumn 2003
“A Particular Life…”, T.J. McNamara, New Zealand Herald, AKL, 11/2/02
“Adrift”, Vin Ryan, Art New Zealand, Summer 2001
“No Rash Lewer Decision”, Howard Leigh, The Fist, Vol 13, November 2001
“Spaces”, Daniel Parker, Real Time, 1/10/01
“Adrift –Nomadic New Zealand Art”, Robert Nelson, The Age, 11/8/01
Feature and Cover – “The trans Tasman art shuffle” Sue Gardiner, Art News New Zealand, pp 50-53, Winter 2001
“Exhibited works challenge…”, Mark Hotton, Otago Daily Times, 7/8/00
“Artist examines identity issues”, Nicola Mutch, Otago Daily Times, 10/8/00
“Prolific Lewer…”, Peter Simpson, Sunday Star Times, AKL, F5 29/11/98
“Transparency…”, T.J. McNamara, NZ Herald, AKL, H8 5/12/98
“Expat artist…”, Megan Lane, the Evening Post, WGTN, p22 21/10/98
“Heavy Metal Artist…”, David Famularo, The Dominion, WGTN, 30/10/98
“Chaos Contained. The Art of Richard Lewer”, Peter Simpson, Art NZ, Issue 88
“Adolescent Images…”, Jackie Clark, Sunday Star Times, AKL, F6, 30/11/97
100 New Zealand Artists, Warwick Brown, Godwit Press, p45, Second Edition
“Red Letter Day”, Jacqueline Haydn, Sunday Star Times, F2, 10/11/96
“Exhibition from Hell”, T.J. McNamara, NZ Herald, AKL, B9, 22/11/96
“Billboard Nude…”, John Manuka, NZ Herald, AKL, A2, 8/11/96
“Drawing Contrasts”, T.J. McNamara, NZ Herald, AKL, B12, 11/4/95
”Perspective on Art”, T.J. McNamara, NZ Herald, AKL, B11, 1991
