Melvin Day : Artist

There were many Melvin Days, but the term Artist encompasses all of them. During a career spanning seven decades, he produced some of the most intellectually astute, yet often visceral, paintings in New Zealand art history.

Born in Hamilton in 1923, Day was a radicalbut also a great believer in tradition. In recent years, his early Cubist-inclined paintings have reinstated himalongside John Weeks, Charles Tole and Louise Hendersonas a key figure in mid-20th century New Zealand art. In London during the 1960s, he was a vital and talented figure in an ex-patriate scene which also included Ralph Hotere, Ted Bullmore, Don Peebles and John Drawbridge. By later that decade he had become the most highly-qualified art historian in New Zealand and had returned home to spend a turbulent, but creatively rich, decade as director of the National Art Gallery.

Featured in the 16 September 2019 New Zealand newsletter.
To receive this newsletter regularly please email us with your name and contact details.