New Zealand b. 1961

Michael Hight is a self-taught artist whose preferred medium is oil on canvas. His work considers the notion of the beehive as a metaphor for transformation. “The beehive metaphor appeals to the artist as a site of transformation, a setting where wax becomes honeycomb, where the luminous, geometric structure witnesses the conversion of nectar into honey. And each beehive transforms the artist’s palette, the ochre, white, and red, into sensual image. The paintings stand as portraits of the New Zealand landscape yet they also stand as portraits of the art making process.ﾠThe artist, like the bee, navigates, collects, and transforms.” (Paula Green, Omarama, Place of Light: Michael Hight’s Beehive Paintings.)

Set within an archetypal New Zealand rural landscape, stacks of hives become the main protagonist within each scene. Seasonal, geographical and compositional variations are explored which allow the artist to negotiate subtle nuances in light, tone, composition and intensity of hue. Hight’s paintings are technically sophisticated and meticulous in their attention to detail. Stylistically, Hight's works appear anchored within realism and incite comparisons with American realist painter Andrew Wyeth, whose desolate landscapes remain mysteriously uninhabited. However on close inspection, the application of paint and arrangement of elements within the composition clearly reveal Hight’s proficiency as an abstractionist.

Combined with a noticeable absence of activity, the works reveal a crucial paradox which Gregory O’Brien cites is central to Hight’s work, where “…the immense activity within the hives is so comprehensively contradicted by the inactivity of their external appearance.” (O’Brien, Gregory, Michael Hight: Land of Milk and Honey, John Leech Gallery (Catalogue), Auckland, 2004.) One cannot help but regard the works as symbolic of the human condition.

After graduating from Victoria University of Wellington with a B. Soc. Sc in 1982, Hight travelled before living in London. This close proximity to Europe and her art was of inevitable influence to Hight. His work does not only reference Aotearoa, but also shows influence from such 16thﾠcentury Northern artists such as Pieter Brueghel, whoseﾠTower of Babelﾠ(c.1563) seems to be an integral part of hisﾠFrom the Argo to Audobonﾠ(2012). His use of oil paint and clean line come together to form compelling images of a high quality and finish which evoke an elegant intensity whilst mystifying and delighting viewers

 Michael Hight lives and works in Auckland and has exhibited widely throughout New Zealand. His work is held in public and private collections within New Zealand including Te Papa Tongarewa Museum of New Zealand, The Chartwell Collection, The James Wallace Trust and Coopers Lybrand.

Selected Solo Exhibitions

2012ﾠ HYPERLINK "http://www.gowlangsfordgallery.co.nz/exhibitions/pastexhibitions/2012/michaelhight.asp" Dreams of Children,ﾠGowﾠLangsford Gallery, Auckland

2011ﾠReliquary, Page Blackie Gallery, Wellington, New Zealand

2010ﾠFrom Waimarino to Red Jacks, John Leech Gallery, Auckland, New Zealand

Wakatipu, Milford Galleries, Queenstown, New Zealand

2009ﾠThe Road to Erewhon, Milford Galleries, Dunedin, New Zealand

2008ﾠMichael Hight,ﾠJohn Leech Gallery,ﾠAuckland,ﾠNew Zealand

2007ﾠRecent Work, Milford Gallery, Dunedin, New Zealand

2006ﾠTaieri,ﾠMilford Gallery,ﾠDunedin,ﾠNew Zealand

Manuherikia,ﾠJanne Land Gallery,ﾠWellington,ﾠNew Zealand

New Paintings,ﾠJohn Leech Gallery,ﾠAuckland,ﾠNew Zealand

2005ﾠNew Paintings,ﾠJanne Land Gallery,ﾠWellington,ﾠNew Zealand

2004ﾠLandﾠofﾠMilkﾠand Honey,ﾠJohn Leech Gallery,ﾠAuckland,ﾠNew Zealand

New Works, Milford Galleries,ﾠDunedin,ﾠNew Zealand

2002ﾠOmarama, Place of Light, Gow Langsford Gallery,ﾠAuckland,ﾠNew Zealand

2001ﾠCampbellﾠGrantﾠGalleries,ﾠChristchurch,ﾠNew Zealand

2000ﾠNorthern Landscapes, Gow Langsford Gallery,ﾠAuckland,ﾠNew Zealand

1999ﾠRecent Paintings,ﾠCampbellﾠGrantﾠGalleries,ﾠChristchurch,ﾠNew Zealand

Recent Paintings, Janne Land Gallery,ﾠWellington,ﾠNew Zealand

1998ﾠMaungakakaramea, Gow Langsford Gallery,ﾠAucklandﾠNew Zealand

Gazetteer, Janne Land Gallery,ﾠAuckland,ﾠNew Zealand

1997ﾠFootnote,ﾠCampbellﾠGrantﾠGalleries,ﾠChristchurch,ﾠNew Zealand

1996ﾠFour Strong Winds,ﾠJanne Land Gallery,ﾠWellington,ﾠNew Zealand

Four Strong Winds,ﾠGow Langsford Gallery,ﾠAuckland,ﾠNew Zealand

1995ﾠIn Trust,ﾠGow Langsford Gallery,ﾠAuckland,ﾠNew Zealand

Seven Rivers,ﾠJanne Land Gallery,ﾠWellington,ﾠNew Zealand

1992ﾠHeartland Trinkets,ﾠGow Langsford Gallery,ﾠAuckland,ﾠNew Zealand

1991ﾠGow Langsford Gallery,ﾠAuckland,ﾠNew Zealand

1990ﾠThe Quick Brown Fox,ﾠSculpture Installation, Fisher Gallery,ﾠAuckland,ﾠNew Zealand

Gow Langsford Gallery,ﾠAuckland,ﾠNew Zealand

33 1/3 Gallery,ﾠWellington,ﾠNew Zealand

1989ﾠGow Langsford Gallery,ﾠAuckland,ﾠNew Zealand

33 1/3 Gallery,ﾠWellington,ﾠNew Zealand

1988ﾠGow Langsford Gallery,ﾠAuckland,ﾠNew Zealand

Jonathan Jensen Gallery,ﾠChristchurch,ﾠNew Zealand

33 1/3 Gallery,ﾠWellington,ﾠNew Zealand

1987ﾠ33 1/3 Gallery,ﾠWellington,ﾠNew Zealand

1986ﾠFalcon Gallery,ﾠLondon,ﾠEngland

The Foyer Gallery, Hampstead,ﾠLondon,ﾠEngland

1984Words and Pictures Gallery,ﾠAuckland,ﾠNew Zealand