Marian Maguire

Place: Christchurch

Born: 1962

Biography:

Marian Maguire is a renowned lithographer from New Zealand, born in 1962 in Christchurch. Her work is characterized by the juxtaposition of landscapes, historical characters, and mythical figures from New Zealand and ancient Greece, blending the realism of 19th-century colonial prints with the stylized designs of Greek black-figure pottery and Māori wood carvings.

Early Life and Education

Maguire earned a BFA at the University of Canterbury in 1984 and later studied at the Tamarind Institute in the US. She returned to New Zealand in 1987, establishing a print studio and gallery, and taught printmaking at the Ilam School of Fine Arts at Canterbury.

Artistic Style and Themes

Maguire's early printmaking work featured figures, architectural elements, and ancient Greek culture. Her series include:

• Southern Myths (2001), which transported Achilles and Ajax into the New Zealand landscape.
• The Odyssey of Captain Cook (2003–2005), combining 19th-century historical figures like Captain Cook and the Māori chief Natai with Greek imagery.
• The Labors of Herakles (2006–2008), where Hercules participates in New Zealand events like the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi.
• Titokowaru's Dilemma (2008–2011), a dialogue on war and passive resistance between Tītokowaru and Socrates, comparing scenes from The Iliad with Māori history.

(2015) marked a shift in media, with seven painted door panels and four etchings, continuing the mixture of Greek and New Zealand themes.

Collections and Recognition

Maguire's works are held in the collections of the Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki, the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa, Puke Ariki, the National Maritime Museum in London, and the British Museum. Her art can be found on Wikioo.org, where her unique style and blend of cultures are showcased. For more information on Marian Maguire's life and work, visit her page on Wikipedia or explore her art on Wikioo.org. Her art is a testament to the power of cultural exchange and the boundless creativity of the human spirit.