“As if the work was waiting to be noticed by you”: Kate Cox at Summer Showcase

Tyger Gallery’s superb Summer Showcase features the stunning work of New Zealand artist Kate Cox.

Kate Cox paints in the largest, sunniest bedroom in her home - a century-old country villa in New Zealand’s Bay of Islands - watched over from the room’s sofa by her blue roan cocker spaniel, Blue.

“The white walls and timber floors are covered with painter’s waterproof drop cloths with peeling tape attempting to hold them down,” she says.

“The walls have taken a beating with a powerful staple gun, nails, glue and shallow slices by a Stanley knife. The painter's cloth on the main wall has left beautiful long linear paint drips and measurements written with pastel and pen on all sides.”

“All tables and surfaces are covered in organised chaos. My step ladder and painting trolley are usually in the way.”

That ‘organised chaos’, though, is the temporary creative space (she has a renovation underway for a studio practice in a large shed/garage on the property) for an extraordinarily talented painter with a knack for beautifully balanced abstract composition.

Kate is best known for her large abstract paintings and abstract landscapes with acrylics and oil sticks on canvas - work that has seen her be a finalist in the Walker and Hall Waiheke Art Award and the Estuary Art and Ecology Award.

“Visually I would describe my works as an exploration of abstraction including line work, mark making, colour and contrast striving for a balanced composition with authenticity,” Kate says.

“What you don't see between each layer and textural mark are my most personal, emotional and deepest thoughts from my intense home of diversity to issues further away. Processing these issues through to the tip of my paintbrush, my practice provides a sacred place for my passion and peace.”

Tyger is thrilled to welcome her to the gallery, and for our Summer Showcase she’s done something very special - four stunning small abstract paintings: Crowded, Go Play Outside, Shifting Skies, and Take the Stairs. They’re on display in the gallery, and available online now.

Kate studied a Bachelor of Design before moving into a career in commercial interiors in Auckland and London. While working, she pursued her passion of becoming a professional artist by taking fine art courses with mentoring and painting commissioned works.

And with a designer’s eye, she finds inspiration for her outstanding works everywhere.

“What inspires me is infinite,” she says.

“I have instant spark-like reactions to contrasting colours that come alive whether in nature, fabric or advertising. I discover composition inspiration everywhere. From architecture, films or taking photos from an aeroplane window and more.”

“I sketch, write details or photograph these visual snippets. Some linger and others need to be explored as soon as possible. I just know they'll make sense to form a language representing the themes for my works.”

She says she hopes viewers of her four works in Summer Showcase will be drawn to them in the way that she is with art that she loves.

“I hope they feel what I feel when I view another artist's work”.

“An unexpected positive reaction of intrigue and authenticity as if the work was waiting to be noticed by you.”

Summer Showcase runs until 3 January at Tyger.

Don’t forget we’ve got extended opening hours this December! From this week we’re open Thursdays 12-4, in addition to our normal Friday to Sunday 10-4 opening hours.

We’ll also be open for Yass’ Christmas Late Night Shopping evenings on 14 and 21 December.