The Elam School of Fine Arts, founded by John Edward Elam, is part of the Faculty of Creative Arts and Industries at the

University of Auckland , mottoeng = By natural ability and hard work , established = 1883; years ago , endowment = NZD $293 million (31 December 2021) , budget = NZD $1.281 billion (31 December 2021) , chancellor = Cecilia Tarrant , vice_chancellor = Dawn F ...

. Students study degrees in

fine art In European academic traditions, fine art is developed primarily for aesthetics or creative expression, distinguishing it from decorative art or applied art, which also has to serve some practical function, such as pottery or most metalwork ...

with an emphasis on a multidisciplinary approach. The school is located across three buildings, the Mondrian building, Building 431 (or the "Main" fine arts building), and Elam B, which includes the studios for

postgraduate Postgraduate or graduate education refers to academic or professional degrees, certificates, diplomas, or other qualifications pursued by post-secondary students who have earned an undergraduate ( bachelor's) degree. The organization and stru ...

and

doctoral A doctorate (from Latin ''docere'', "to teach"), doctor's degree (from Latin ''doctor'', "teacher"), or doctoral degree is an academic degree awarded by universities and some other educational institutions, derived from the ancient formalism ''li ...

students on Princes Street, in central

Auckland, New Zealand Auckland (pronounced ) ( mi, Tāmaki Makaurau) is a large metropolitan city in the North Island of New Zealand. The List of New Zealand urban areas by population, most populous urban area in the country and the List of cities in Oceania by po ...

History

The school was founded in 1890 by Elam, and incorporated a School of Design which had been established and maintained for 11 years by Sir Logan Campbell.

Edward William Payton Edward William Payton (21 May 1859 – 2 October 1944) was a photographer and painter in New Zealand. Payton was born in Warwickshire, England. He studied art at the Municipal School of Art Birmingham under E. R. Taylor. He has received several me ...

was the first director, retiring in 1924 after 35 years.

Archie Fisher Archie Macdonald Fisher (born 23 October 1939) is a Scottish folk singer and songwriter. He has released several solo albums since his first, eponymous album, in 1968. Fisher composed the song "The Final Trawl", recorded on the album ''Windwa ...

was appointed principal in 1924 and was instrumental in the school's inclusion within the University of Auckland in 1950. A fire in 1949, which destroyed the school and library, was the catalyst, as well as the loss of pre-1950 administrative records, that resulted in joining with the University. In 1994, the Sargeson Trust, named after

Frank Sargeson Frank Sargeson () (born Norris Frank Davey; 23 March 1903 – 1 March 1982) was a New Zealand short story writer and novelist. Born in Hamilton, Sargeson had a middle-class and puritanical upbringing, and initially worked as a lawyer. After ...

, gave the George Fraser Gallery, located in the downstairs premises of a historic stables in Princes St, to the students of Elam for an exhibition space. The Fine Arts Library houses New Zealand's largest collection of specialist monographs, and has an extensive collection of art books, which is believed to be the largest in New Zealand.

Notable staff and alumni

Notable alumni include: *

Noel Crombie Geoffrey Noel Crombie (born 17 April 1953) is a New Zealand percussionist and former member of the band Split Enz. He fulfilled multiple roles including costume and hair designer, singer, album cover designer, and music video director. Prior to ...

Gretchen Albrecht Gretchen Albrecht (born 7 May 1943) is a New Zealand painter and sculptor. Early life and education Albrecht was born in Onehunga in 1943, the daughter of Reuben John and Joyce Winifred Fairburn (née Grainger) Albrecht. She attended the Unive ...

Rita Angus Rita Angus (12 March 1908 – 25 January 1970), a New Zealand painter, has a reputation - along with Colin McCahon and Toss Woollaston - as one of the leading figures in twentieth-century New Zealand art. She worked primarily in oil and water c ...

* George Baloghy *

Don Binney Donald Hall Binney, (24 March 1940 – Sources are (even self-) inconsistent, saying he was 72 or 73, yet born in 1940, resulting in a possible range of birth dates from 15 September 1938 to 14 September 1940. However, based on input from ...

* Peter Brown *

Niki Caro Nikola Jean Caro (born 20 September 1966) is a New Zealand film director and screenwriter. Her 2002 film ''Whale Rider'' was critically praised and won a number of awards at international film festivals. She directed the 2020 live action versi ...

Melvin Day Melvin Norman "Pat" Day (30 June 1923 – 17 January 2016) was a New Zealand artist and art historian. Biography Day was born in Hamilton, New Zealand. At the age of eleven, Day began Saturday morning classes at Elam School of Art, University o ...

Lynley Dodd Dame Lynley Stuart Dodd (born 5 July 1941) is a New Zealand children's book author and illustrator. She is best known for her '' Hairy Maclary and Friends'' series, and its follow-ups, all of which feature animals with rhyming names and have so ...

Jan Nigro Jan Nigro (born Betty Aislabie; 16 April 1919 — 28 March 2012) was a New Zealand artist. Early life Nigro was born Betty Aislabie in Gisborne on 16 April 1919, the daughter of Arthur Aislabie and Olive Beatrice Aislabie (née Lange).

Michael Parekowhai Michael may refer to: People * Michael (given name), a given name * Michael (surname), including a list of people with the surname Michael Given name "Michael" * Michael (archangel), ''first'' of God's archangels in the Jewish, Christian and ...

* Ian Scott *

Lois White Anna Lois White (2 November 1903 – 13 September 1984), known in the art world as Lois (pronounced Loyce) White, was a New Zealand painter of the modernist school. She taught at the Elam Art School of the University of Auckland from 1927 un ...

Ellen von Meyern Ellen von Meyern (died c. 1912) was a New Zealand artist who is remembered for her portraits of Maori people. Life Meyern was probably the daughter of Arthur von Meyern. Around 1895, she moved from Dunedin to Auckland, where she studied portra ...

Stella Corkery Stella Corkery (born 1960) is a New Zealand visual artist and drummer, born in Tuatapere, New Zealand. Corkery's work is experimental and reflective, often commenting on contemporary ideas. She currently lives and works in Auckland, New Zealand ...

Bessie Christie Elizabeth Froomes Christie (3 August 1904 – 9 March 1983) was a New Zealand painter. Career Born in Wellington on 3 August 1904, Christie trained at the Elam School of Fine Art at Auckland University College. She taught art at Takapuna Gram ...

Jean Horsley Jean Alice Horsley (15 February 1913 – 21 August 1997) was a New Zealand artist. Her work is held in the permanent collection of the Auckland City Art Gallery. Career Horsley attended the Elam School of Fine Art at the University of Auckl ...

Selina Foote Selina Foote (born 1985) is a visual artist from New Zealand. Pieces by Foote are included in the collections of the Chartwell Trust and Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa. Education Foote graduated with a Master of Fine Arts from Elam S ...

Vida Steinert Vida Isabella Steinert (''née'' Vickers; 24 January 1903 – 27 February 1999) was a New Zealand painter, born in Hamilton, New Zealand. Also known as Vida Isabella Vickers, Vida Isabella Steinert, or Vida Steinhart. Education A graduate of ...

Kees Meeuws Kees Junior Meeuws (; born 26 July 1974) is a New Zealand former rugby union prop and former assistant coach of the Highlanders in the Super Rugby competition, and also a real estate agent by trade and a painter by education. Meeuws played 42 ...

Notable staff include: * Art historian Michael Dunn who was head of the school from 1994 to 2006. *

John Francis Kavanagh John Francis Kavanagh (24 September 1903 – 18 June 1984) was an Irish sculptor and artist. In 1930 he was awarded the British School at Rome Scholarship in Sculpture. In 1933 he was appointed Head of Department of Sculpture and Modelling at th ...

* John Weeks

External links

Official website

Elam School of Fine Art
''An Encyclopaedia of New Zealand'', 1966

References

{{authority control Faculties of the University of Auckland Educational institutions established in 1890 Art schools in New Zealand 1890 establishments in New Zealand