A survey exhibition exploring Pearson’s use of paint and presenting the main themes in his oeuvre: portraits including self portraits and figure studies, landscapes and music related paintings such as rhythmic abstracts and opera interiors.

Alan Pearson, Jennifer waiting, 1995, Oil on canvas. Courtesy of the artist.

Alan Pearson will be in his 90th year when this exhibition opens; although now resident in Australia, he developed his career as an artist in New Zealand (with spells in Italy, Great Britain).  Working in a painterly expressionist manner, he is arguably New Zealand’s leading portraitist. His self portraits are particularly strong - in the tradition of great self portraitists such as Rembrandt, as Alan faces his own mortality, these works have become powerful psychological insights into states of mind and don’t flinch from depicting the physical toll of time on his body and features.

The title of this exhibition, Master of Grey, refers to remarks made about his painting - that he is a master of many and varied shades of grey