Nicky Foreman

Nicky Foreman was born in Waitara, Taranaki in 1970. She attended Elam School of Fine Arts Auckland University 1988 – 1991 and graduated BFA 1992. First exhibiting in Auckland and New Plymouth in 1992, Foreman has exhibited regularly in Auckland, New Plymouth and Christchurch ever since.

From the onset, she has worked in a compartmentalized format. Foreman’s work can be viewed twofold – in small icon-like pieces and as the whole. Her work is concerned with taking everyday objects and resetting them, so they might be viewed in a difference context – as precious and beautiful. Within this method of working Foreman plays off order against chaos, and abstract against figurative.

Foreman uses oil paint with an assemblage of other materials. She manipulates her materials and invents for herself new techniques that evolve through her everyday practice, giving a sense of alchemy to her artwork. Using gold, silver and copper leaf, wax, inks and shellacs, she engenders tactile historical surfaces.

For many years, Foreman has visited France on an annual basis. An overwhelming feature of Foreman’s current working practice is the fact that she has a strong connection with France. Her works are in essence, a hybrid of the two contrasting environments of France and New Zealand.

A love of Renaissance painting, particularly the often unnoticed details of foliage with their own symbolism, is evident in the artist’s work.

SOLO EXHIBITIONS AT ARTIS

2017 – Minutiae, ARTIS Gallery, Auckland
2015 – A Promise of Tomorrow, ARTIS Gallery, Auckland
2013 – Ordinarily Sacred, ARTIS Gallery, Auckland

ACADEMIC HISTORY

1988 – 1991 Bachelor of Fine Arts, Elam School of Fine Arts, Auckland University, Auckland, New Zealand.

SOLO EXHIBITIONS

2017 – Minutiae, ARTIS Gallery, Auckland
2015 – A Promise of Tomorrow, ARTIS Gallery, Auckland
2013 – ARTIS Pavilion – Auckland Art Fair, Auckland
Ordinarily Sacred, ARTIS Gallery, Auckland
2012 – Flourish, ARTIS Gallery, Auckland
2011 – Naissance, Gallery Thirty Three, Wanaka
2010 – Techne Tou Biou, Christchurch
Rotatio, Whitespace, Auckland
2009  – Small Works, The Arthouse, Christchurch
2008 – New Work, Whitespace, Auckland
Nouveaux Tableaux, Espace Cotos, St Tropez, France
Paintings, Amisfield Winery, Lake Hayes, Queenstown
New Work, The Arthouse, Christchurch
New Paintings, Gallery Thirty Three, Wanaka
2007 – New Paintings, Cable Bay, Waiheke Island
New Work, Whitespace, Auckland
New Work, The Arthouse, Christchurch
2006 – New Paintings, Whitespace, Auckland
2005 – New Work, Whitespace, Auckland
Un regard sur une nouvelle couleur, Vallauris, France
Un regard sur une nouvelle couleur, Whitespace, Auckland
Clearing, Bowen galleries, Wellington
2004 – New Work, Whitespace, Auckland
2003 – New Work, Whitespace, Auckland
New Paintings, Bowen Galleries, Wellington
New Work, Lesley Kreisler Gallery, New Plymouth
2002 – New Work, Judith Anderson Gallery, Auckland
2001 – Recent Work, Bowen Galleries, Wellington
New Work, Judith Anderson Gallery, Auckland
2000 – Round the Mountain, Lesley Kreisler Gallery, New Plymouth, NZ
New Work, Judith Anderson Gallery, Auckland, NZ
1999 – Homeward, Bowen Galleries, Wellington, NZ
1998 – Treasure, Judith Anderson Gallery, Auckland, NZ
Quest, Lesley Kreisler Gallery, New Plymouth, NZ
1997 – Past Voyages, Judith Anderson Gallery, Auckland, NZ
1996 – Time & Tide, Salamander Gallery, Christchurch, NZ
Recent Works, Lesley Kreisler Gallery, New Plymouth, NZ
1995 – New Work, Oedipus Rex, Auckland, NZ
1994 – On the Way Back, Oedipus Rex, Auckland, NZ
1993 – New Work, Lesley Kreisler Gallery, New Plymouth, NZ
Recent Work, Oedipus Rex, Auckland, NZ
1992 – Plains of Time, Chiaroscuro, Auckland, NZ

COMMISSIONS & COLLECTIONS

Nicky Foreman is represented in private and corporate collections throughout New Zealand and internationally, including New York art collector – Jim Rosenfield’s collection. Commissions include works for the National Business Review, Saatchi & Saatchi and Chapman Tripp.