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TOM FIELD – Cycles of a Southern Sea – 21 April-15 May 2026

Tom Field presents Cycles of a Southern Sea, an exhibition of oil paintings developed over a period of thirty years. Field’s practice captures the landscapes and atmospheres of Aotearoa through a distinctive observational style, characterised by painterly mark-making and an expressive use of light. In this series, the artist draws on his experiences of free diving in the 1950s in Tasman Bay, transforming the underwater world into abstract compositions that evoke the wonder, danger, and challenge of exploring it.

Observation and experience inform these works. The painting ‘Shoaling’ reflects moments spent in his little boat, gazing down at swirling sand, rocks and  marine creatures as he passed over the shallows close to shore. ‘Tangaroa’ (sea god) never appears but sends a clear warning of impending danger. ‘Landfall on Nine Mile Beach’ was inspired by the long walking beach on the West Coast of the South Island just south of Westport. The painting ‘Red’ is in reference to it being the first colour to filter out in the sea as one goes deeper.  As a result it glows in the shallow water where it complements the surrounding greens and blues.  Krill also look amazing in the form of massive red swarms drifting near the surface in the cerulean of the ocean. In ‘Purling Ripples’ the artist expresses both the gurgling, swirling or eddying of water over stones on sand, and the remains of an old spread of knitting.

Cycles of a Southern Sea began in the 1990s and the series continued through the following two decades. They represent only one strand of Tom Field’s work. The paintings are mostly undated as many were reworked, some quite recently.

Shouling, by Tom Field, oil on canvas, 1700 x 1200mm, $9500 Maramataka, by Tom Field, oil on canvas, 1700 x 1200mm, $9500 Tangaroa, by Tom Field, oil on canvas, 1700 x 1200mm, $9500 Matrix, by Tom Field, oil on canvas, 1700 x 1200mm, $9500 Perigean Currents, by Tom Field, oil on canvas, 1020 x 760mm, $5000 Sea Drift, by Tom Field, oil on canvas, 1000 x 800mm, $5000 Undercurrents, by Tom Field, oil on canvas, 1000 x 800mm, $5000 Pelagic, by Tom Field, oil on canvas, 1000 x 800mm, $5000
Red, by Tom Field, oil on canvas, 1225 x 915mm, $7500 Wave, by Tom Field, oil on canvas, 1020 x 1020mm, $7000 Landfall on Nine Mile Beach, by Tom Field, oil on canvas, 760 x 1150mm, $5000 Purling Ripples, by Tom Field, oil on canvas, 800 x 1000mm, $5000

Born in 1938, Tom Field was educated at Nelson College and studied at University of Canterbury School of Art, 1956 – 1959. He majored in Design and was diverse in his practice. Lecturers who made an impact on his development were Bill Sutton, John Knight, Florence Akins, John Doudney and Russell Clark. While a student he was awarded numerous art and design prizes. Close contemporaries included Quentin MacFarlane, John Coley, Ted Bracey  and Hamish Keith.

After graduating he was Art Master at St Andrew’s College in Christchurch, graphic artist for NZTV in Wellington, then took up a position at Hamilton Teachers College where he was lecturer in graphics and design. He then moved to Dunedin and for many years was lecturer at Otago Polytechnic School of Art where he taught drawing, painting, printmaking, photography, computer art, and papermaking. He established a papermaking facility within the school. During his teaching career Tom travelled extensively in Europe and the United States to study developments in design, architecture, and computer art.

Throughout his teaching career Tom Field maintained an active practice and exhibited widely across New Zealand. Early on, he was involved in ‘The Group’ and ‘20/20 Vision’ exhibitions in Christchurch and also exhibited regularly at Brooke Gifford Gallery and later at Dobson Bashford Gallery. Following the 2011 Christchurch earthquakes, which led to the closure of many galleries, he continued painting full-time from his home studio, as well as working in France and Australia. Recent travels in southern France and Spain, particularly Catalonia, have continued to inspire his work.

Tom Field’s work has been displayed at the New Zealand Embassy in Paris and exhibited at the Orly Airport Gallery. It is held at Christchurch Art Gallery, Hocken Collection University of Otago, Dunedin Art Gallery and Auckland Art Gallery plus numerous private collections. He continues to paint and draw and recently held a solo exhibition in southern France.