Avenal McKinnon

Avenal Beryl Elizabeth McKinnon MNZM (née Gough; 8 April 1949 – 12 March 2021)[1] was a New Zealand art historian and writer.[2] She was the founding director of the New Zealand Portrait Gallery Te Pūkena Whakaata.[3][4]

McKinnon in 2013

Biography

McKinnon was born and raised in Christchurch and attended Woodford House in Havelock North, in the North Island, from 1962 to 1966. She completed a degree in English literature at the University of Canterbury followed by a post-graduate art history course at London's Courtauld Institute of Art. In the 1970s, she worked at the Tate, cataloguing the modern British collection.[5]

She was appointed the first director of the New Zealand Portrait Gallery in 2005, retiring in 2014.[6][7] During her tenure, the gallery expanded its permanent collection from six works to more than 200. It also moved into dedicated premises in Shed 11 on Queen's Wharf.[4]

McKinnon is considered an expert on the work of New Zealand artist Frances Hodgkins and wrote articles and exhibition catalogues on her work.[8][9]

McKinnon died in Wellington on 12 March 2021, aged 71 years.[10][11]

Personal life

McKinnon was the daughter of property developer Owen Gough, and granddaughter of industrialist Tracy "T.T." Gough. She had a twin brother, Antony Gough, and two older brothers, Tracy and Harcourt.[12] She was married to New Zealand diplomat John McKinnon.[5][6]

Honours and awards

In the 2015 New Year Honours, McKinnon was appointed a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit, for services to the arts.[13] In 2018, Woodford House awarded her the Tempus Award for outstanding achievement by a former student in her field.[6]

Publications
  • Hodgkins, F., McKinnon, A., & Whitford and Hughes. (1990). Frances Hodgkins, 1869–1947: 17 July – 14 August 1990, held at Whitford and Hughes, London. London: Whitford and Hughes.[14]
  • Hodgkins, F., McKinnon, A., Trim, P., & Mahara Gallery. (2000). Frances Hodgkins: The link with Kapiti : the Field Collection. Waikanae: Mahara Gallery.[15]
  • Welch, S. M., Alley, E., McKinnon, A., & New Zealand Portrait Gallery. (2008). Stephen Martyn Welch: 'the sitting' : 18 December 2008 to 21 January 2009. Wellington, N.Z: New Zealand Portrait Gallery.[16]

References
  1. "Life story: Gallery director Avenal McKinnon had a love of art in her blood". Stuff. 20 March 2021. Retrieved 28 March 2021.
  2. "McKinnon, Avenal Beryl Elizabeth, 1949–". McKinnon, Avenal Beryl Elizabeth, 1949– | Items | National Library of New Zealand | National Library of New Zealand. 1 January 1949. Retrieved 3 April 2020.
  3. "Portrait might be art but we don't have to like it". Stuff. 23 February 2010. Retrieved 3 April 2020.
  4. "Young director to head Portrait Gallery". www.scoop.co.nz (Press release). New Zealand Portrait Gallery. Scoop. 18 November 2014. Retrieved 3 April 2020.
  5. "An enduring portrait". Stuff. December 2014. Retrieved 3 April 2020.
  6. "Former Director of the NZ Portrait Gallery Receives Tempus Award". Woodford House. 20 November 2018. Retrieved 3 April 2020.
  7. "New Year Honours 2015 – Citations for Members of the New Zealand Order of Merit". New Year Honours 2015 – Citations for Members of the New Zealand Order of Merit. Retrieved 3 April 2020.
  8. Waikanae watcher (21 April 2019). "Frances Hodgkins, from Dunedin to Waikanae". Waikanae Watch. Retrieved 3 April 2020.
  9. "Gow Langsford Gallery". www.gowlangsfordgallery.co.nz. Retrieved 3 April 2020.
  10. "Avenal McKinnon death notice". New Zealand Herald. 16 March 2021. Retrieved 16 March 2021.
  11. Gates, Charlie; Guildford, Jonathan (16 March 2021). "Prominent Christchurch art historian and writer Avenal McKinnon remembered for immense services to the arts". Stuff.co.nz. Retrieved 17 March 2021.
  12. "Gough's sister 'won't sell'". Stuff. 6 December 2013. Retrieved 3 April 2020.
  13. "New Year honours list 2015". Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. 31 December 2014. Retrieved 3 April 2020.
  14. Hodgkins, Frances; McKinnon, Avenal; Whitford and Hughes (1990). Frances Hodgkins, 1869–1947: 17 July – 14 August 1990, held at Whitford and Hughes, London. London: Whitford and Hughes. OCLC 84321376.
  15. Hodgkins, Frances; McKinnon, Avenal; Trim, Peter; Mahara Gallery (2000). Frances Hodgkins: the link with Kapiti : the Field Collection. Waikanae (N.Z.): Mahara Gallery. ISBN 978-0-473-06623-9. OCLC 154672473.
  16. Welch, Stephen Martyn; Alley, Elizabeth; McKinnon, Avenal; New Zealand Portrait Gallery (2008). Stephen Martyn Welch: 'the sitting' : 18 December 2008 to 21 January 2009. Wellington, N.Z.: New Zealand Portrait Gallery. OCLC 489268697.
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