Sculptor Profile
Graham Bennett
Born in Nelson, Graham Bennett graduated from the University of Canterbury School of Fine Arts in 1970. Initially trained in photography, Bennett developed an interest in the human figure within three-dimensional space. This led to his ongoing fascination with measuring, mapping, navigating and the shaping of identity through associations with place. Having worked in various media, Bennett now primarily exhibits sculpture throughout New Zealand and overseas.
SELECTED COMMISSIONS AND PUBLIC ART
2006 Engage, Christchurch South Library, Christchurch
2005 Reasons to Return, Connell’s Bay Sculpture Park, Waiheke Island
2004 Fixing Positions, Rocky Bay, Waiheke Island
2003 Reasons for Voyaging, Christchurch Art Gallery, Christchuch
2003 Lines Extending, Kurashiki City, Japan
2002 Tribute to Firefighters, Christchurch
1997 Sea/Sky/Kaipara, The Farm, Kaipara
SELECTED SOLO EXHIBITIONS AND INSTALLATIONS
2008 Converse - The Arthouse, Christchurch
2007 Seek - The Arthouse, Christchurch
2006 Ukabu - The Arthouse, Christchurch (with Wataru Hamasaka); Squaring the Circle - Milford Galleries Auckland and Dunedin
2005 Five Spaces - The Arthouse, Christchurch
2004 Trajectories – Diversion Gallery, Marlborough; Spheres of Influence - The Arthouse Christchurch
2003 Behind Reasons for Voyaging - Christchurch Art Gallery; Defining Markers, The Arthouse, Christchurch
2002 Making Connections - Diversion Gallery, Marlborough
2000 Judith Anderson Gallery, Auckland; Milford Galleries, Dunedin
1980 – 2000 Solo exhibitions, installations and invited projects in Auckland, Christchurch and Japan
SELECTED AWARDS
1996 Trustbank Community Trust Arts Excellence award
1995 Fellowship in Visual Arts, New Zealand Arts Council
1995, 1996, 2000 Asia 2000 Foundation Grants
1990, 1984, New Zealand Arts Council Grants
Regular participation in group exhibitions and sculpture parks since 1979 in New Zealand, Australia, Spain, Japan, USA
SELECTED BIBLIOGRAPHY
Warwick Brown, "Graham Bennett, Another 100 New Zealand Artists, Auckland: Godwit, 1996
David Eggleton, "Rock Art", New Zealand Listener, 14-20 October 2006
Cassandra Fusco, "Making Relations: Translations of forms and forces by Graham Bennett", Art New Zealand, no.72, Spring 1994
Cassandra Fusco, "Of Time and the Oceans", World Sculpture News, vol.10, no.1, Winter 2004
John Freeman Moir, Walking Through Graham Bennett's Reasons for Voyaging, Christchurch: South Walk, 2003
Rosa Shiels, Journey: The Story of the Steel, Christchurch: Christchurch City Council, 2003
For extensive bibliography and exhibition history, refer to website www.bennettsculpture.info
