Philip Kilmore: The Artist

	Philip Kilmore
	The Artist
home gallery the artist deconstructing exhibitions media contact	A contemporary realist painter, Philip's works are characterised by his assured technique, meticulous attention to detail and choice of subject matter. Through his paintings, Philip celebrates the ordinary, using the landscape and simple everyday subjects as metaphors for our place in the world. Philip's paintings create a sense of intimacy with the viewer - one can readily imagine oneself in the scene, and it is this ability to enter into Philip's paintings that is so often commented on by viewers. To be engrossed by the sense of being there evokes a feeling of timelessness and tranquility, of the world standing still. Philip's paintings are generally devoid of people, but have a reference to man, often reflecting on our intervention with the landscape and the precariousness of those endeavours. Another continuing theme in Philip's work is his choice of simple everyday subjects. His works capture the inherent beauty in our everyday environment and reflect an almost spiritual quality in the shape and form of the landscape. "I try to capture the effects of man's subjugation of the land, and the constant struggle to tame the chaos of nature. I hope that people viewing my work can relate to my vision, and gain a new appreciation of their surroundings." Not content to replicate the majestic and obvious, he prefers to celebrate the ordinary by focusing on the variations and subtleties in his subjects, allowing the viewer to become lost in the often overlooked complexities of a familiar object or scene. His abandoned buildings and rusty machinery stand as monuments to previous generations who tamed and nurtured the land. They are relics that are constant reminders of our own recent history. Although Philip's landscapes are very real, there is a manipulation of the elements within the paintings. "I am always interested in the way we try to shape the landscape to suit our own needs, and in a way I'm doing just that with my paintings - using buildings and landforms as references to create a new perfected landscape .In my work I want to capture a sense of place, but it is not any specific place - viewers can recognize elements of a scene, but cannot pinpoint the exact location. In creating this altered landscape the abstract structures are fundamental to it's success, and I pay particular attention to the composition and form." The fully rendered realism of Philip's work allows him to emphasis the particular and the unique in nature. "I want to pay homage to the complexities of nature and the differences and distinctions between things, and realism allows me to do this." Philip works in oils from his studio at Whangarei Heads, and is largely self-taught. Important influences have been Andrew Wyeth, Mark Cross, Tomas Sanchez and Jeffrey Smart. His awards include The Montana Wines Art Award (1980, 1981) and the BRL Art Award (1987). His work has been included in the 2007 publication "New Zealand: A Painted Country", the 2006 publication “New Zealand’s Favourite Artists” and the 2005 publication “Wrinkly Tin: A History of Corrugated Iron in New Zealand". His works can be found in collections both here in New Zealand and around the world. "When I'm working on a picture I'm always thinking about what I'm going to paint the next day, next week, next month. I've got so many ideas floating around in my head, I'll never run out of them. People often comment that I must have incredible patience, but it's not patience, it's a determination and commitment to fully realise my ideas and to faithfully depict the beauty that nature creates, whether it be a pure landscape or an object shaped by the elements and time. I enjoy the challenge of exploring new ways to portray a subject within the realist genre and despite the frustration and occasional monotony I can't imagine not painting - the excitement, the challenge, and the uncertainty that comes with every painting is what drives me and will drive me as long as I am able to hold a brush." Awards: 1980 Montana Wines Art Award - merit & viewer's choice awards 1981 Montana Wines Art Award - merit, viewer's choice & sponsor's choice awards 1987 BRL Art Award - highly commended Exhibitions: 1986 Solo exhibition, Dawson's Gallery, Rotorua 1987 Solo exhibition, Harrison's Gallery, Tauranga 1979-1988 Works exhibited at: Whitecliffe Gallery, Auckland Downtown Hilton Gallery, Auckland Dowse Gallery, Wellington Dawson's Gallery, Rotorua Harrison's Gallery, Tauranga Gisborne Art Gallery & Museum, Gisborne 1989-2000 No work undertaken 2001 June Group exhibition Landforms, Arts Desire, Warkworth 2002 Sept Solo exhibition North Land, Arts Desire, Warkworth 2003 June Group exhibition A Sense of Place , Arts Desire, Warkworth Sept Commenced painting full-time Nov Solo exhibition Coast to Coast, Arts Desire, Warkworth Dec Commission for The Friends of the Mahurangi for 150th Warkworth anniversary 2004 Oct Exhibition Rural Decompositions, Arts Desire, Warkworth 2005 Feb Group exhibition, Fishers Fine Arts, Auckland July Group exhibition Realism, Impressions & Hope, Fishers Fine Arts, Wellington Oct Exhibition Preserving the Past, Arts Desire, Warkworth Dec Two works published in Wrinkly Tin: A History of Corrugated Iron in New Zealand 2006 Feb Exhibition The Small Exhibition, Arts Desire, Warkworth July Works in Art for the Kaipara charity auction Oct Exhibition Fractured Images, Arts Desire, Warkworth Oct Included in New Zealand's Favourite Artists book by Saint Publishing Included in 12 Contemporary New Zealand Artists calendar by Saint Publishing 2007 Feb Sole painting in Gala Charity Auction for Chris Cairns Foundation Launch Mar Exhibition Fringe Dwelling, Remuera Gallery, Auckland Sept Exhibition Reality Check, Bank Street Gallery, Whangarei Nov Included in New Zealand: A Painted Country by Denis Robinson, published by New Holland Sole painting in Allen's Charity Auction for the Whangarei Hospice Dec Summer Catalogue, Warwick Henderson Gallery, Parnell, Auckland 2008 April Group exhibition Falling Leaves, Aesthete Gallery, Hamilton Autumn Catalogue, Warwick Henderson Gallery, Auckland Aug Featured on the cover of 12 New Zealand Artists, calendar published by Craig Potton Publishers Oct Exhibition Near and Far , Bank Street Gallery, Whangarei Dec Summer Catalogue, Warwick Henderson Gallery, Parnell, Auckland 2009 April Real and Unreal: An Exhibition of NZ Surrealists, Warwick Henderson Gallery May Exhibition Ever Closer, Matakana Gallery, Matakana, Warkworth Auckland Art Fair, Viaduct Basin, Auckland 2010 May Exhibition Dichotomy, Art Matakana, Matakana, Warkworth Oct Exhibition Pick of the Bunch , Remuera Gallery, Auckland Nov The Earl Street Journal , Milford Galleries, Queenstown 2011 July The Review , Milford Galleries, Queenstown Oct Artists' Impressions of NZ Book Launch Exhibition, Art Matakana, Warkworth Included in Artists' Impressions of NZ book by Saint Publishing Included in New Zealand Art Calendar 2012 by Black Fish Nov 4 Real, Aesthete Gallery, Hamilton Represented by: Milford Galleries, Queenstown Aesthete Gallery, Hamilton Remuera Gallery, Auckland Art Matakana, Matakana Helena Bay Gallery, Northland back to top
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Philip Kilmore

The Artist

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A contemporary realist painter, Philip's works are characterised by his assured technique, meticulous attention to detail and choice of subject matter. Through his paintings, Philip celebrates the ordinary, using the landscape and simple everyday subjects as metaphors for our place in the world.

Philip's paintings create a sense of intimacy with the viewer - one can readily imagine oneself in the scene, and it is this ability to enter into Philip's paintings that is so often commented on by viewers. To be engrossed by the sense of being there evokes a feeling of timelessness and tranquility, of the world standing still.

Philip's paintings are generally devoid of people, but have a reference to man, often reflecting on our intervention with the landscape and the precariousness of those endeavours. Another continuing theme in Philip's work is his choice of simple everyday subjects. His works capture the inherent beauty in our everyday environment and reflect an almost spiritual quality in the shape and form of the landscape. "I try to capture the effects of man's subjugation of the land, and the constant struggle to tame the chaos of nature. I hope that people viewing my work can relate to my vision, and gain a new appreciation of their surroundings." Not content to replicate the majestic and obvious, he prefers to celebrate the ordinary by focusing on the variations and subtleties in his subjects, allowing the viewer to become lost in the often overlooked complexities of a familiar object or scene. His abandoned buildings and rusty machinery stand as monuments to previous generations who tamed and nurtured the land. They are relics that are constant reminders of our own recent history.

Although Philip's landscapes are very real, there is a manipulation of the elements within the paintings. "I am always interested in the way we try to shape the landscape to suit our own needs, and in a way I'm doing just that with my paintings - using buildings and landforms as references to create a new perfected landscape .In my work I want to capture a sense of place, but it is not any specific place - viewers can recognize elements of a scene, but cannot pinpoint the exact location. In creating this altered landscape the abstract structures are fundamental to it's success, and I pay particular attention to the composition and form." The fully rendered realism of Philip's work allows him to emphasis the particular and the unique in nature. "I want to pay homage to the complexities of nature and the differences and distinctions between things, and realism allows me to do this."

Philip works in oils from his studio at Whangarei Heads, and is largely self-taught. Important influences have been Andrew Wyeth, Mark Cross, Tomas Sanchez and Jeffrey Smart. His awards include The Montana Wines Art Award (1980, 1981) and the BRL Art Award (1987). His work has been included in the 2007 publication "New Zealand: A Painted Country", the 2006 publication “New Zealand’s Favourite Artists” and the 2005 publication “Wrinkly Tin: A History of Corrugated Iron in New Zealand". His works can be found in collections both here in New Zealand and around the world.

"When I'm working on a picture I'm always thinking about what I'm going to paint the next day, next week, next month. I've got so many ideas floating around in my head, I'll never run out of them. People often comment that I must have incredible patience, but it's not patience, it's a determination and commitment to fully realise my ideas and to faithfully depict the beauty that nature creates, whether it be a pure landscape or an object shaped by the elements and time. I enjoy the challenge of exploring new ways to portray a subject within the realist genre and despite the frustration and occasional monotony I can't imagine not painting - the excitement, the challenge, and the uncertainty that comes with every painting is what drives me and will drive me as long as I am able to hold a brush."

Awards:
1980 Montana Wines Art Award - merit & viewer's choice awards
1981 Montana Wines Art Award - merit, viewer's choice & sponsor's choice awards
1987 BRL Art Award - highly commended

Exhibitions:
1986             Solo exhibition, Dawson's Gallery, Rotorua
1987           Solo exhibition, Harrison's Gallery, Tauranga
1979-1988 Works exhibited at:
                      Whitecliffe Gallery, Auckland
                      Downtown Hilton Gallery, Auckland
                      Dowse Gallery, Wellington
                    Dawson's Gallery, Rotorua
                      Harrison's Gallery, Tauranga
                      Gisborne Art Gallery & Museum, Gisborne
1989-2000 No work undertaken
2001 June Group exhibition Landforms, Arts Desire, Warkworth
2002 Sept Solo exhibition North Land, Arts Desire, Warkworth
2003 June Group exhibition A Sense of Place , Arts Desire, Warkworth
         Sept Commenced painting full-time
           Nov Solo exhibition Coast to Coast, Arts Desire, Warkworth
           Dec Commission for The Friends of the Mahurangi for 150th Warkworth anniversary
2004 Oct    Exhibition Rural Decompositions, Arts Desire, Warkworth
2005 Feb    Group exhibition, Fishers Fine Arts, Auckland
          July    Group exhibition Realism, Impressions & Hope, Fishers Fine Arts, Wellington
          Oct    Exhibition Preserving the Past, Arts Desire, Warkworth
          Dec   Two works published in Wrinkly Tin: A History of Corrugated Iron in New Zealand
2006 Feb    Exhibition The Small Exhibition, Arts Desire, Warkworth
          July    Works in Art for the Kaipara charity auction
          Oct    Exhibition Fractured Images, Arts Desire, Warkworth
          Oct    Included in New Zealand's Favourite Artists book by Saint Publishing
                      Included in 12 Contemporary New Zealand Artists calendar by Saint Publishing
2007 Feb    Sole painting in Gala Charity Auction for Chris Cairns Foundation Launch
          Mar    Exhibition Fringe Dwelling, Remuera Gallery, Auckland
          Sept   Exhibition Reality Check, Bank Street Gallery, Whangarei
          Nov    Included in New Zealand: A Painted Country by Denis Robinson, published by                        New Holland
                      Sole painting in Allen's Charity Auction for the Whangarei Hospice
          Dec    Summer Catalogue, Warwick Henderson Gallery, Parnell, Auckland
2008 April   Group exhibition Falling Leaves, Aesthete Gallery, Hamilton
                      Autumn Catalogue, Warwick Henderson Gallery, Auckland
          Aug    Featured on the cover of 12 New Zealand Artists, calendar published by Craig                       Potton Publishers
           Oct   Exhibition Near and Far , Bank Street Gallery, Whangarei
           Dec   Summer Catalogue, Warwick Henderson Gallery, Parnell, Auckland
2009 April    Real and Unreal: An Exhibition of NZ Surrealists, Warwick Henderson Gallery
           May    Exhibition Ever Closer, Matakana Gallery, Matakana, Warkworth
                       Auckland Art Fair, Viaduct Basin, Auckland
2010 May    Exhibition Dichotomy, Art Matakana, Matakana, Warkworth
           Oct     Exhibition Pick of the Bunch , Remuera Gallery, Auckland
           Nov    The Earl Street Journal , Milford Galleries, Queenstown
2011 July      The Review , Milford Galleries, Queenstown
           Oct     Artists' Impressions of NZ Book Launch Exhibition, Art Matakana, Warkworth
                       Included in Artists' Impressions of NZ book by Saint Publishing
                        Included in New Zealand Art Calendar 2012 by Black Fish
           Nov     4 Real, Aesthete Gallery, Hamilton

Represented by:
Milford Galleries, Queenstown
Aesthete Gallery, Hamilton
Remuera Gallery, Auckland
Art Matakana, Matakana
Helena Bay Gallery, Northland