7-31 October 2009

Sam Harrison's large scale woodcut portraits and a selection of his sculpted studies of the human form will be seen for the first time in the North Island in this solo exhibition opening at Solander Gallery.

Building on the success of his recent exhibitions at COCA in Christchurch and furthering his reputation as an exceptional young talent, Harrison's new works explore biblical narratives while harking back to Renaissance ideals of beauty and form. The finely chiseled woodcut prints show a genuine draftsmanship and a lively and sensitive engagement with the subject. Portrayed with empathy, the figures are modeled through variances between light and dark. Their often near life size scale adds to the presence of the subject, holding the viewer in their steady gaze.

Sam Harrison graduated with a Bachelor of Art and Design from the CPIT School of Art and Design in 2006 and in the same year won the Visual Arts First Prize in the Mortlock McCormack Law Art competition and additionally, the Farina Thompson Drawing Award.

The artist's work features in public and private collections throughout New Zealand.

	Sam Harrison, Head of Christ Woodcut on 230 x 190 mm paper, from an edition of 16, 2009. Contact gallery.
	Sam Harrison, Portrait Of A Woman Woodcut on 1010 x 705 mm paper, from an edition of 12, 2009. Contact gallery.
	Sam Harrison, Rose Woodcut on 570 x 480 mm paper, from an edition of 16, 2009. Contact gallery.
	Sam Harrison, Rose Concrete (240 x 230 x 460), from an edition of 2, 2008. Contact gallery.
	Sam Harrison, 19.26 Woodcut on 1430 x 830 mm paper, from an edition of 12, 2008. Contact gallery.
	Sam Harrison, Red Christ Woodcut on 1010 x 705 mm paper, from an edition of 16, 2009. Contact gallery.
	Sam Harrison, Two Women Woodcut on 1330 x 740 mm paper, from an edition of 16, 2009. Contact gallery.
	Sam Harrison, Cover Their Eyes Woodcut on 1190 x 780 mm paper, from an edition of 16, 2009. Contact gallery.
	Sam Harrison, Clementine Woodcut on 515 x 775 mm paper, from an edition of 16, 2009. Contact gallery.
	Sam Harrison, Kate Concrete (230 x 210 x 360), 1 of 1, 2008. Contact gallery.
	Sam Harrison, Death and Maiden Woodcut on 1000 x 705 mm paper, from an edition of 12, 2008. Contact gallery.
	Sam Harrison, Colin Woodcut on 270 x 205 mm paper, from an edition of 12, 2009. Contact gallery.
	Sam Harrison, Man Concrete (350 x 230 x 440), 1 of 1, 2009. Contact gallery.
	Sam Harrison, Christ Woodcut on 1000 x 700 mm paper, from an edition of 16, 2009. Contact gallery.
	Sam Harrison, Bridget Woodcut on 650 x 710 mm paper, from an edition of 16, 2009. Contact gallery.
	Sam Harrison, Self Portrait Woodcut on 290 x 220 mm paper, from an edition of 16, 2009. Contact gallery.