Alan Pearson

Alan Pearson (1929–2019) was a neo-expressionist painter who lived in New Zealand and, in his later life, Australia.

Life and work

Pearson studied at the University of Canterbury School of Fine Arts (1957-59), and then lived most of his life in Christchurch, New Zealand, moving to Australia in 2000.[1]

Throughout his career, Alan Pearson exhibited in public and private art galleries across New Zealand and Australia, including a retrospective Heaven and Blood at Christchurch Art Gallery in 1999.[2] His work is in private and public collections and he has been the subject of several publications.

Pearson is known for his expressive and gestural paintings which encapsulate a passionate demeanour and love of music, landscape and people.[3] Pearson painted portraits of many of his friends, family and colleagues. He also chronicled and immortalised himself in numerous self portraits, scrutinising the artist's psyche;

"I'm looking into the inner person, talking with the individual and discovering a collection of inner thoughts which come together in their face" - Alan Pearson (The Press Christchurch)[4]

Awards
  • 1958 - Rosa Sawtell Prize for drawing
  • 1959 - Bickerton-Widdowson Scholarship
  • 1964 - Queen Elizabeth II Arts Council of New Zealand scholarship to study at Royal Academy Schools, London.
  • 1976 - Queen Elizabeth II Arts Council of New Zealand travel scholarship
  • 1978 - National Bank Portrait Award. 1st prize for Herne Bay Couple
  • 1979 - National Bank Portrait Award. 1st prize for Portrait of Mrs Oliver
  • 1986 - Artist in residence, Otago Polytechnic School of Fine Art, Dunedin Public Art Gallery.
  • 1989 - Queen Elizabeth II Arts Council of New Zealand travel grant to Australia.
  • 1993 - Artist in residence Tai Poutini Polytechnic, Greymouth (grant, Queen Elizabeth II Arts Council of New Zealand)

Collections
  • Aigantighe Art Gallery, Timaru
  • Alexander Turnbull Library, The National Library of New Zealand, Wellington
  • Auckland City Art Gallery
  • Chartwell Collection, Auckland
  • Christchurch Art Gallery (formerly Robert McDougall Art Gallery) Christchurch
  • Dunedin Public Art Gallery
  • Forrester Gallery, Oamaru
  • Hocken Collections, University of Otago Library, Dunedin
  • James Wallace Trust
  • Middlesbrough Institute of Modern Art, Cleveland, England
  • Museum of New Zealand, Te Papa Tongarewa, Wellington
  • New Zealand Film Archive
  • New Zealand Portrait Gallery, Wellington
  • Suter Art Gallery, Nelson
  • Te Manawa Museum, (formerly Manawatu Art Gallery),Palmerston North
  • The Rutherford Trust Collection, Wellington
  • The Todd Corporation Art Collection, Wellington
  • University of Otago Medical School, Auckland
  • University of Otago, Dunedin
  • Waikato Museum of Art and History, Hamilton

References
  1. "Alan Pearson, 1929–2019". Christchurch Art Gallery. Christchurch Art Gallery. Retrieved 15 July 2021.
  2. "Alan Pearson, 1929-2019". Christchurch Art Gallery. Christchurch Art Gallery. Retrieved 15 July 2021.
  3. "Alan Pearson - Painter". Alan Pearson - Painter. Alison Pearson. Retrieved 15 July 2021.
  4. Moore, Christopher. "Portrait of the Artist" (PDF). The Press. Retrieved 15 July 2021.
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