Irene Ferguson (born 1970) is a New Zealand artist best known for her portrait paintings. Ferguson was awarded the New Zealand Portraiture Award in 2008.
Training and experience Ferguson was born in Hokitika. She gained a Diploma of Fine Arts with Honours from in Dunedin in 1993 and a Master of Fine Arts from the New York Academy of Art in 2005. From 2005 to 2006 Ferguson lived and worked in New York City. In 2010 she travelled to Italy to complete training in portraiture at the Charles H. Cecil Studios in Florence, Italy.Wellington Artist embraces 'grey power'
Fellowships and residencies In 2002 Ferguson was awarded the William Hodges Fellowship residency by the Southland Art Foundation. In 2008 Ferguson was the Artist in Residence at Samuel Marsden Collegiate School, Wellington.Samuel Marsden Collegiate School previous Artists in Residence
Awards In 2008 Ferguson won the New Zealand Portrait Gallery Adam Portraiture Award with The Blue Girl, Johanna Sanders in her Back Yard. In 2006 she was a finalist in the BP Portrait Award at the National Portrait Gallery, London.http://www.npg.org.uk/index.php?id=4403 BP Portrait Award 2006 – Exhibitor 12, 'No Title' by Irene Ferguson, oil on canvas, 1320 x 715mm (52 x 28 1/8").
Artist residencies 1996 The Southland Art Foundation 'Artist in Residence' programme 2002 William Hodges Fellowship 2008 Artist in Residence at Samuel Marsden Collegiate School, Wellington.Samuel Marsden Collegiate School previous Artists in Residence
Exhibitions Solo 2012 Colossal, {Suite} Gallery, Wellington, New ZealandSuite Gallery: Irene Ferguson. Retrieved 16 January 2016 2011 Torrid Grey, Aratoi – Wairarapa Museum of Art & History, Masterton, New ZealandAratoi Wairarapa Museum of Art and History : 'Torrid Grey' by Irene Ferguson 2010 Pine, {Suite} Gallery, Wellington, New Zealand 2008 Wayward, Janne Land Gallery, Wellington, New Zealand 2003 sample; flesh and blood, Janne Land Gallery, Wellington, New Zealand 2003 sample; flesh and blood, Southland Museum and Art Gallery, Invercargill, New Zealand
Group 2013–14 The Parkin Drawing PrizeJudges announce short-list for 2014 Parkin Drawing Award. Retrieved 16 January 2016 2013 Runner up, The 7th International Drawing Biennale, The Polish Art Foundation, Melbourne, AustraliaIrene Ferguson, Lisa, Pencil on paper, 2nd Place, 2013 Biennale. Retrieved 16 January 2016 2008 Strive Towards Your Destiny, group show, Hirschfeld Gallery, WellingtonReview by Jessica Scott, City Gallery Wellington, retrieved 16 January 2016 2006 BP Portrait Award, National Portrait Gallery, London.BP Portrait Award 2006 – Exhibitor 12. Retrieved 16 January 2016
Work in collections Ferguson's work is predominately held within New Zealand collections. James Wallace Art Trust, Auckland, New ZealandThe James Wallace Arts Trust : 'Dawn 5' by Irene FergusonThe James Wallace Arts Trust : 'Factory' by Irene Ferguson The New Zealand Portrait Gallery, Wellington, New Zealand Southland Art Foundation, Invercargill, New Zealand Southland Museum and Art Gallery, Invercargill, New Zealand
Reviews and writing 2010 Mark Amery reviews portraiture from the Adam Portrait Award show.The Big Idea, 2 Apr 2010. Retrieved 16 January 2016 2008 Strive Towards Your Destiny, group show, Hirschfeld Gallery, Wellington. Review by Jessica Scott, City Gallery Wellington.Reviewed by Jessica Scott, City Gallery Wellington, retrieved 16 January 2016 2003 "sample; flesh and blood", Jane Land Gallery, Wellington. Reviewed in Art New Zealand, 2003. 2003 Music and Braille, Peter Rae Gallery, Dunedin. Reviewed by Penny Hunt, Art New Zealand, Issue 109, 2003Reviewed by Penny Hunt, Art New Zealand, Issue 109, 2003. Retrieved 16 January 2016
References
External links Adam Award Article by Abby Cunnane published in the New Zealand Listener Magazine