Michael Smither

Smither had started drawing his first Taranaki Rocks and Pools on his return from Central Otago and it was in The Gables Studio that the rock paintings were advanced into what became his popular style.

To quote the Australian art historian, Dr Bernard Smith, “Smither impresses me deeply as one of those rare beings, a natural painter. I mean an artist who uses paintings as a language which reveals aspects of his personal experience”.

Image Size: 575 x 380 mm
Paper Size: 750 x 560 mm
Limited edition of: 80

Michael Smither is a contemporary New Zealand artist renowned for his work as a painter and printmaker. His work often depicts everyday life, landscapes, and domestic scenes, characterised by strong compositions, clarity, and a distinctive use of colour.

Smither’s artistic practice is deeply rooted in observation, where his precise, sharp-edged style captures not just the appearance of his subjects but their inherent structure and atmosphere. His work is often concerned with the interplay between form, light, and space, lending his compositions a striking clarity and sense of balance. This analytical approach extends to both his paintings and prints, where simplified forms and carefully modulated colour create a heightened sense of reality.

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