Distinctly Regional

One of New Zealand’s most notable and under-rated artists, Eric Lee-Johnson was also an accomplished photographer and writer.

Unlike most of his contemporaries, Lee-Johnson embraced isolation. Long before it was fashionable, he lived in a series of remote communities – including Piha, Mahurangi, Waihi and the Hokianga – far away from the creature comforts of the city and the fads of the art world. He was more interested in developing a distinctly regional imagery than in imitating European models, and this is reflected in his well-known paintings of derelict farmhouses, butchered macrocarpas, and other aspects of the rural landscape.

However, his oeuvre is by no means limited to scenes from the backblocks. A formidable technician, he was relentlessly innovative, as evidenced by his pioneering work with abstraction and Maori motifs. Lee-Johnson’s life was as fascinating as his painting. Not only did he live in some of the most colourful parts of New Zealand, but he was closely involved in the literary scene, and his friendships with A.R.D. Fairburn, Charles Brasch, Maurice Duggan and other writers were a source of inspiration to them.

Eric Lee-Johnson was one of our most influential artists. ‘His hope’, as Maurice Shadbolt puts it, ‘was to make New Zealanders see their land afresh, and with love. There never was a more dedicated New Zealander in the arts.’