ARTIST:	Peter O'Hagan
DATES:	NZ 20th Century b. 1942
TITLE:	Sending a Postcard back Home - Two Paddocks Pinot Noir at the Esplanade Hotel, Devonport
MEDIUM:	Watercolour, Gouache and Tinted Gum Arabic
SIZE:	46 x 61 cm
REMARKS:	Signed lower left
$NZ:	Category D
Peter O'HAGAN New Zealand b. 1942 Peter O’Hagan is certainly among New Zealand’s most successful artists. He is renowned for his spontaneous, vibrant paintings in watercolour and gouache. Recently he has gained recognition as artist in residence at the prestigious Champagne House of 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. 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), combined with his love for the "finer things" in life are all elements that influence his painting. Favourite subjects include lavish European interiors, fine wines, still lifes and vibrant 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 a highly successful exhibition aboard the liner QEII, which encouraged him to continue with his chosen vocation and helped to establish his international reputation. He went on to have many successful exhibitions at home and throughout Asia and Europe, showing his Tahitian watercolours and his series of paintings completed after his trips aboard the Orient Express from Venice to Paris, and aboard the Eastern Orient Express from Singapore to Bangkok. O’Hagan’s work has been purchased for leading corporate collections such as Air New Zealand, Hyatt Hotels, the Hôtel de Crillon (Paris), Venice Simplon Orient Express, The Government of Macau and of course, Veuve Clicquot Ponsardin. In September 2003 Jonathan Grant Galleries staged Peter’s second Paris exhibition at the Ravensborne Gallery in the Place du Palais Royale, which was once again supported by Veuve Clicquot. In 2004, Fine New Zealand Wines Abroad, combined three of his great passions; travel, the wines of New Zealand and his favourite French vineyards. Recently O’Hagan completed a commissioned painting in a new style that celebrated Veuve Clicquot’s modernity. The work specifically referenced the collaborative design of Christophe Pillet and Christian Lacroix that created a new modern appearance for the exceptional vintage; La Grande Dame. This painting now hangs in the new La Grande Dame Room at Veuve Clicquot’s head office in Reims. In 2005, the Count Audoin and Countess Roselyne de Dampierre launched their Grand Cru and premier Cru collection of Champagne cuvées in Auckland. O’Hagan had visited the Dampierre’s home in Chenay during 2005 and completed sketches that documented his impressions of tasting the family’s 1998 reserve cuvée. The resultant painting was sold by auction during the Champagne tasting and the proceeds were donated to the Auckland branch of the SPCA.
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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