'Regeneration'

Regeneration is a winter collection featuring works by existing Fe29 artists (Marté Szirmay and John Drawbridge) and 3 artists new to the gallery (Jim Wheeler, Bill Hayes, and Katie Blundell).

Newly received bronze sculptures and medals by Marté Szirmay are accompanied by a selection of rare John Drawbridge prints, recently released by the family.

A small selection of unique, indoor/outdoor bronze sculptures by Jim Wheeler includes the feature work Regeneration Oak Fork (2013). Born in North Carolina, Wheeler studied art and biology at university and his continued interest in plants still informs his sculptural practice today. Studying art under Setsuya Kotani and Peter Agostini, he earned a BA (Hons) at the University of North Carolina before becoming an apprentice at the Johnson Atelier Technical Institute of Sculpture (USA). In 1981, Wheeler immigrated to NZ to help set up Art Works sculpture foundry. A member of MANZ, his reputation as one of the country’s foremost bronze sculptors has led to a number of significant commissions, both medals and large-scale works.

Wheeler has been professionally exhibiting for over forty years and has been included in major NZ sculpture exhibitions including Sculpture in the Gardens (Auckland Botanic Gardens), Brick Bay Sculpture Park (Matakana), Sculpture on the Shore, Sculpture on the Gulf, Tai Tapu Sculpture Gardens (Chch), and Shapeshifter (New Dowse). His work is held in The British Museum (London), Fitzwilliam Museum (Cambridge), University of N. Carolina (Greensboro, USA), Auckland Museum, James Wallace Trust, and NZ Embassy residence (Paris).

Rounding out the show are a small number of ceramics by Bill Hayes and mixed-media works by Katie Blundell. Growing up in New York, Hayes earned a BFA from Alfred University, NY before starting work at Tallix Fine Art Foundry (NY). Returning to California, he spent 5 years at Artworks Foundry (Berkeley) before immigrating to NZ in 1997. A member of MANZ, he has continued to make a name for himself as a leading NZ sculptor, working in both bronze and ceramics. Blundell has an MFA from Elam School of Fine Arts (Auckland) and a Diploma in Teaching (Visual Art & Art History), Auckland University. She was a finalist in the 28th Annual Wallace Art Awards (2019), 2022 Adam Portraiture Awards, and 2023 NZ Painting and Printmaking Awards.