BIO
UPCOMING EXHIBITION | FACE FORWARD Group Portrait Show 14 - 30 August 2025
FACE FORWARD is a dynamic group exhibition that explores the evolving language of portraiture in contemporary art. Featuring a diverse selection of artists from around New Zealand, this exhibition brings together an eclectic mix of styles, techniques, and mediums to present fresh perspectives on the human face and figure.
From realist to abstract, each work on display reveals a distinct approach to capturing identity, emotion, and presence. Some portraits challenge traditional aesthetics through bold distortions or surreal compositions, while others delve into themes of memory, cultural identity, and self expression. The exhibition includes work on canvas, panel, paper, and textile.
FEATURING: ALICE FENNESY / HELENA SKERLJ-ROVERS / JAMES SWEETING / JOHN BOYD DUNLOP / KIRSTEN LOVELOCK / LAURETTE LOOKER / ROBYN FLEET / SHARON DUYMEL / TOM ARMSTRONG
Robyn Fleet, born in Hastings in 1974, spent 14 years abroad in Sydney and London before returning to Hawke’s Bay. She holds a Bachelor of Art and Design from Ideaschool (Eastern Institute of Technology) and has exhibited in several public galleries since 2013. Fleet is currently establishing a contemporary art space for children’s classes and workshops while also developing art programs for aged care.
Working primarily with oil paints and oil sticks, Fleet is fascinated by the materiality of paint and its endless possibilities. Her art explores the human condition, She believes in using open-ended processes to reflect on how we perceive ourselves and others, echoing Martin Luther King’s vision of a world where character, not skin color, defines us.
“My work is about my process of how I arrive at my images. It is the intention of my work to suggest avenues of emotion and thought, the human experience through sensations of materiality and tactility.”
EXHIBITIONS & EVENTS
Outside - Inside | 9 - 25 May 2024
FACE FORWARD | Group Portrait Show | 14 - 30 August 2025
Tensions & Tenderness | Group Show | 11 - 29 September 2025
