Maria Kemp
Maria Kemp is a Dunedin-based contemporary New Zealand artist known for her vibrant, tapestry-like landscape paintings of the Otago region, inspired by childhood memories and a spiritual concept of the earth as a crafted garment with flowing patterns, folds, and light, often using oil on board with bold colour planes to evoke the land's fabric-like quality and her faith.
She is particularly known for her dramatic landscapes, hills, and light of inland Otago, central Otago, and the Strath Taieri are iconic of those areas.
"In my painting I portray the metaphorical notion of the earth stretched out like fabric, suggesting a craftsman, designer or omnipotent creator. I identify the earth as a garment with its patterns, folds, and complex ordered design, I see continuous affinities that fascinate and resonate within me. I am drawn to the concept of seeing all the elements in our lives being woven together on an unseen loom.” - Maria Kemp
In essence, Maria Kemp translates the profound beauty and spiritual resonance she finds in Otago's landscapes into richly patterned, contemporary paintings that invite viewers to see the earth as a living, woven creation. Recently Maria has been entranced with
Awards
2011 - Otago Art Society 1st Place, Gaye Rowcroft Award
1996 - Telecom Art Awards Winner
1994 - Otago Art Society People’s Choice Winner, Annual Art Awards
Her paintings feature in the public collections of the Dunedin City Council and Wellington Public Library and private collections in Canada, U.S.A., Scotland and Australia.
