ARTIST:	Peter O'Hagan
DATES:	NZ 20th Century b. 1942
TITLE:	Arrowtown - Central Otago Wine Sales, the New Gold Rush
MEDIUM:	Watercolour, Gouache and Tinted Gum Arabic
SIZE:	51 x 51 cm
REMARKS:	Signed
$NZ:	Category D
Peter O'HAGAN New Zealand 20th Century Peter O'Hagan is certainly among New Zealand's most successful artists. He is renowned for his spontaneous, vibrant paintings in watercolour and gouache. Most recently he has gained recognition as "artist in residence" at the prestigious Champagne house Veuve Clicquot. In July 1998 Peter travelled to France where he was invited to make his base at the Widow Clicquot's historic Manoir de Verzy near Reims. Living at the Manoir de Verzy Peter was able to experience first hand life on the vineyard and the beauty of the countryside as the seasons changed. During his residency, he also travelled to Italy and the South of France - an opportunity to revisit favourite painting spots such as Lake Como and Lake Maggiore, Portofino, Cannes and Nice. Peter's early career as an architect and his work as a curator for the New Zealand Historic Places Trust (at Highwic House in Auckland and Kemp House in Northland), together with his love for the "finer things" in life are all elements which influence his painting. Favourite subjects are lavish European interiors, still lifes and brightly coloured outdoor scenes. As a student, Peter received tuition from notable New Zealand artists Patrick Hanly and Agnes Wood, indeed it was Hanly who encouraged him, in 1984, to relinquish his career as an architect in order to pursue his artistic career. Soon afterwards Peter held an highly successful exhibition aboard the liner QEII which encouraged him to continue with his chosen vocation and helped to establish his international reputation. Peter's love of travel and the success of his early series of paintings in Rarotonga have meant that he now spends an increasing amount of his time abroad. Through his paintings he is able to capture the distinctive qualities and charms of the cultures he experiences. 1992 saw him explore from the Pacific to Europe in grand style. An exhibition of his Tahitian watercolours was held at the Gallerie Artiste on the Boulevard St Germain in Paris. It was acclaimed in the French press and on National Television. Within two weeks the show was a sell out. This unqualified success was followed by a short holiday in Venice and a trip on the Orient Express from Venice to Paris. The series of paintings from this sojourn, titled "A Journey through Italy" was shown at Jonathan Grant Galleries in Auckland. The commercial success of this show resulted in sponsorship by the company Leading Hotels of the World for Peter to stay at Raffles Hotel in Singapore and travel on the Eastern Orient Express to Bangkok. The paintings from this exhibition have been shown at galleries worldwide. O'Hagan's work has been purchased for leading corporate collections such as Air New Zealand, Hyatt Hotels, the Hotel de Crillon (Paris), Venice Simplon Orient Express, The Government of Macau and of course, Veuve Clicquot Ponsardin. Peter O'Hagan lives and works in Australia, but continues to travel and paint watercolours and gouaches in his fresh calligraphic style. He exhibits at 'home' in Auckland and at other leading galleries worldwide, organised by his agent Jonathan Gooderham, owner of Jonathan Grant Galleries in Auckland. 1942 - born in Wellington 1976 - curator for the New Zealand Historic Places Trust at Kemp House in Kerikeri and later at Highwic House in Auckland 1976-77 - taught by Pat Hanly at the University of Auckland 1977 - graduated from the University of Auckland with a degree in Architecture 1977-81 - worked as an architect in the Bay of Islands 1982 - studied painting under Agnes Wood 1984 - commenced full-time painting encouraged by mentor, Pat Hanly 1986/87/88 - solo exhibitions held on the liner QE2 1992 - exhibited at Galerie d'Art, Boulevard St Germain, Paris. Tahitian watercolours "Ambiance Polynésienne" 1992 - moved to Canberra. Painted on safari in South Africa 1993 - painted and travelled on the Venice Simplon Orient Express. Exhibited in Auckland, Christchurch and Wellington 1994 - sponsored by Leading Hotels of the World to paint and travel on the Eastern Orient Express from Singapore to Bangkok. Exhibited in Auckland, Sydney, Canberra and Wellington 1996 - exhibited in London 1998 - appointed artist in residence at Veuve Clicquot Ponsardin at the Manoir Verzy near Reims, France 2003 - home and studio destroyed by bush fires in Canberra 2003 - painted and travelled throughout the Mediterranean on the M.S.C. Rhapsody. Exhibited in Auckland, Christchurch 2003 - exhibited in Paris sponsored by Veuve Clicquot Ponsardin. 2006 - commemorative painting acquired for the collection of Veuve Clicquot Ponsardin
Arrowtown Gallery Ltd 2/40 - 44 Buckingham Street, Arrowtown 9302 P O Box 96 Arrowtown 9351, New Zealand Phone: +64 3 442 1755
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