Trish Campbell
New Zealand-based artist Trish Campbell has been experimenting with colour since the very beginning of her practice, fusing and commingling neon hues to create works that evoke a deep emotional response within the viewer. “I was being driven by the feeling these materials were creating within me,” she says. “I unknowingly created something to nourish myself, but have found since, many others feel the same. They are a tonic and a mood enhancer as well as an artwork.” Drawing from the works of the Light and Space Artists movement from the 1960s, she has worked to transpose these grand-scale works of light into something for domestic settings.
Using LEDs, gel and acrylic, she fills boxes with light and colour, combining them inharmonious or contrasting compositions according to her instincts until they comprise a transportive light sculpture. She tends not to work towards a pre-determined design. “When I start out making my art,” she explains, “it is never about what I wish to convey, because I don’t know. It is about what feels right.” This sense of intuition and freedom of expression is palpable in her finished works. Their strong colours invoke feelings of joy and delight, bringing a sense drama, usually only found in the white cube, into the home of the viewer.
*this text was produced by Art Edit and originally published in Art Edit issue 28, 2021
Exhibition History
June 2022 - Collaboration with Martha’s Fabrics to create a range of new lights for their Newmarket Store,
May 2022 - Collaboration with P.E.Nation to create a Light Sculpture for the launch of their Flagship Global Store.
2022 Jan-Sept- New Chapter - I have chosen to no longer have gallery representation. I have chosen instead, self-representation. I look forward to working with you one day. Trish
National Contemporary Art Awards, Waikato Museum, Finalist 2021
Lightworx Gallery, Auckland–Opening Exhibition March 2021
Lightworx Gallery, Queenstown–Opening Exhibition September 2020
National Contemporary Art Awards, Waikato Museum, Finalist 2019
TSB Festival of Lights, New Plymouth–Dec 2018–Feb 2019
Wallace Gallery, Morrinsville–Suffrage Exhibition–October 2018
Arthaus Contemporary–Lightworks Exhibition with Michelle Boyes–August2-19, 2018
Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa–Toi Art Exhibition–Invited to exhibit in front Windows March–June 2018
Tacit Gallery, Hamilton–Chekhov’s Moon Exhibition–March–April 2018
Kaipara Sculpture Gardens–10th Curated Exhibition2017-2018
Muse Art Gallery, Havelock North–Sensing Art Exhibition, September–November 2017
To Shed some Light-Auckland Festival of Photography 1/6/2017–24/6/2017–Curated by Sojeuney Cardinal
Waiheke Community Art Gallery–2017 Small Sculpture Prize-Finalist
Poi Room–begin to exhibit limited edition light works November 2016
Arthaus Orakei–became member of artist collective at ArthausOrakei, opening show 27 November, 2016
Distant Past @allpressnz (a work selection from The James Wallace Collection)–19 July2016
In residence at Artbase Gallery, Orakei–June 2014–June 2016
alpha, beta, gamma... at WORLD in Wellington during WOW–Sep/Oct 2015
alpha, beta, gamma... at Vero Centre, Shortland St with Pierre Peeters Gallery–June 2015
The Dream Weavers–at Pierre Peeters Gallery, Parnell May 2015
Tour of Duty–Solo Exhibition - Northart, April–May 2015
Into the Mystic–at Pierre Peeters Gallery, Parnell Oct-Nov
Bask(2011) at the Basement Gallery, Lower Greys Ave, exhibition titled rendeRED http://eyecontactsite.com/2014/08/chromatic-ambience
June 2014 opened artist run gallery and studio in local community to promote and support work of emerging artists (artbase.org) with various group shows
Guerilla Gallery Newmarket (Now Circle Gallery) pop up exhibition with Transit Collective Nov 2013
Tour of Duty–Solo show-Uxbridge Arts Gallery, Howick, 12 April–3 May, 2012 http://www.times.co.nz/arts/honour-in-fabric-creations.html
Pink–New Zealand Steel Gallery, Pukekohe, 14 October–5 November, 2011-work collected by the James Wallace Arts Trust http://www.franklinarts.org.nz/
Eat Your Art Out–Uxbridge Arts Gallery, Howick, 10–30 August, 2011 http://www.uxbridge.org.nz/exhibition-archiveAUT BVA Y3
Graduation Show 10–14 November, 2010. Final work collected by the James Wallace Arts Trust http://www.visualartsgrads.aut.ac.nz/
Tilt, a group show in St Paul St Gallery 3, 26-29 May, 2010.www.stpaulst.aut.ac.nz Art with LoVe–the 5th FliRtation! 6–10 November, 2009 http://www.artwithlove.org/exhibiting-artists-1
AUT BVA Y1/Y2 End of Year Exhibition, 27 October, 2009
D.A.N.C.E. @ Cassette 9, Vulcan Lane, 6 October, 2009
‘X’ Cross Street Gallery, 17 August, 2009
AUT BVA Y1/Y2 End of Year Exhibition (2008)
Tour of Duty (2008) Solo show - Corban Estate Arts Centre, 11 April–11 May http://www.ceac.org.nz/exhibitions/past_exhibitions/exhibitions_2008.aspx
MIT DVA Graduation Show (2007) Corban Estate Arts Centre