Mark Cross (born 1955,

Auckland 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 ...

), is a

contemporary artist Contemporary art is the art of today, produced in the second half of the 20th century or in the 21st century. Contemporary artists work in a globally influenced, culturally diverse, and technologically advancing world. Their art is a dynamic com ...

and

painter Painting is the practice of applying paint, pigment, color or other medium to a solid surface (called the "matrix" or "support"). The medium is commonly applied to the base with a brush, but other implements, such as knives, sponges, and ai ...

from

New Zealand New Zealand ( mi, Aotearoa ) is an island country in the southwestern Pacific Ocean. It consists of two main landmasses—the North Island () and the South Island ()—and over 700 smaller islands. It is the sixth-largest island count ...

. His works are held in museums and galleries in New Zealand.

Early life and career

Mark Cross was born in 1955 in

. He started his painting career when he was in his twenties. At the age of 23, he moved with his family to

Liku, Niue Liku is one of the fourteen villages of Niue, located close to the easternmost part of the island. It lies due east of the capital, Alofi, and its population at the 2017 census was 98. Geography Liku is connected to the capital by a road which tra ...

. In order to find a market for his work, he returned to New Zealand in 1982. Employing elements of the natural landscape, foreshore imagery and the human figure, his artwork imparts an ecological message regarding the human condition and its relationship with the environment. In collaboration with other artists, he founded the Hikulagi Sculpture Park in Niue's rainforest in 1996. In collaboration with the author Brad Matsen, he co-authored the book ''Have We Offended?'', a collection of Mark Cross' work, produced by the John Leech Gallery.

Selected exhibitions

Solo

* 2013: ''Sienna Palette'', Pierre Peeters Gallery * 2012: ''Works in Transit'', Pierre Peeters Gallery, Auckland. * 2005: ''Sheep Country.'', Real Gallery, Auckland * 2004: ''Heta: Power and Fragility'', Photographs SOCA gallery Auckland and the Whangarei Art Museum * 2003: ''Recent Works'', John Leech Gallery, Auckland * 2002: ''Have We Offended'',

Te Manawa Te Manawa (Māori: ''The Heart'') is a museum, art gallery and science centre in Palmerston North, New Zealand. It is operated by the Te Manawa Museums Trust, a charitable trust incorporated on 20 August 1999. From that date, the Trust assumed r ...

, Museum and Art Gallery, Palmerston North * 2002: Cook Islands National Museum, Cook Islands * 1998: Haleiwa Gallery, Hawaii * 1997: ''Woodcuts'', John Leech Gallery, Auckland * 1996: Premier Gallery, Hawaii * 1995: ''Life Stills'', John Leech Gallery, Auckland * 1993: ''Anomalies'', John Leech Gallery, Auckland * 1991: John Leech Gallery, Auckland

Group

* 2010: Connect Gallery, Wil, Switzerland * 2003: ''Exiles in Paradise'', With

Mahiriki Tangaroa Mahiriki Tangaroa (born 1973) is a New Zealand-born Cook Islands photographer and painter. She is a former director of the Cook Islands National Museum. She is recognised as a leading contemporary Cook Islands artist, and her work is regularly exhib ...

, Beachcomber Gallery (now

Bergman Gallery Bergman Gallery is an international commercial art gallery with an original gallery in Rarotonga, Cook Islands, and a second gallery in Auckland, New Zealand. The gallery was first established in 2016 by Ben Bergman in Rarotonga, Cook Islands. Berg ...

), Rarotonga * 2002: ''Tulana Mahu Installation'', Cook Island National Museum * 2000: ''Tulana Mahu Installation'', Sydney Olympic Arts Festival, Australia * 1995: Drawings; Joint exhibition with

John Pule John Puhiatau Pule (born 18 April 1962) is a Niuean artist, novelist and poet. The Queensland Art Gallery describes him as "one of the Pacific's most significant artists".

, The Lane Gallery, Auckland * 1996: ''Nukututaha: Art From Niue'', The Lane Gallery Auckland * 1993–1994: ''Real Vision''; Robert McDougall Art Gallery, Christchurch * 2024: Wong and Cross; Joint exhibition with Brent Wong, Boyd-Dunlop Gallery, Napier, New Zealand

References

New Zealand painters Living people 1955 births Artists from Auckland {{NewZealand-painter-stub