Denis O'Connor (born 1947) is a New Zealand ceramicist, sculptor and writer who has exhibited both in New Zealand and internationally.
Education O'Connor studied at the Wellington Polytechnic School of Design and the University of Otago.
Career O'Connor's early work was made using white porcelain and the iron-rich clay which he found near his studio on Waiheke Island. In 1985 he was awarded the Frances Hodgkins Fellowship at Otago University, and during his tenure he switched to using limestone. More recently he has incorporated found objects and has started to use black slate, which has introduced a more minimalist aesthetic.
Residencies He has held international residencies including:
Frances Hodgkins Fellowship, Otago University (1985) Moet and Chandon Fellowship, Champagne, France (1996) Rathcoola Fellowship, Cork, Ireland (2005) Blumhardt Foundation Residency in Gulgong, New South Wales, Australia (2016), (2017–18)
Public commissions and collections
O'Connor has had many prestigious commissions, and his works are held in a large number of public collections including:
Aotea Centre, Auckland Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki Auckland Museum Te Papa Whakahiku Auckland Regional Authority Australia Council for the Arts, Sydney City Gallery, Wellington Connells Bay Sculpture Park Dowse Art Museum, Lower Hutt Dunedin Public Art Gallery Frances Hodgkins Fellowship Collection, University of Otago, Dunedin Govett-Brewster Art Gallery, New Plymouth Hocken Library, University of Otago, Dunedin Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Wellington Ministry of Justice, High Court, Auckland Ministry of Justice, High Court, Wellington Moët et Chandon, Épernay, France Montana Wines Ltd, New Zealand Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa National Bank, Auckland National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne National Maritime Museum, Auckland North Harbour Chapel, Albany, Auckland Rijksmuseum Kroller-Muller, Netherlands Robert McDougall Art Gallery, Christchurch Royal Scottish Museum, Edinburgh Sky City Casino, Auckland University of Auckland Viaduct Basin, Auckland Waikato Museum of Art and History, Hamilton Wairarapa Arts Foundation, Masterton Wellington City Council Wellington Sculpture Trust, Wellington Botanic Garden
Publications O'Connor has produced several written works to accompany his major exhibitions:
Songs of the gulf 1984 The Gorse King 1992 Big aitche little aitche 2000 What the roof dreamt 2007
References