Biography
Otautahi based artist Polly Gilroy graduated with a BFA (first class honours) from Toi Rauwharangi, Massey University College of Creative Arts, Wellington in 2017. Polly Gilroy has exhibited across Aotearoa, New Zealand and Australia, notably OTOMYS (Melbourne, Aus), PG Gallery192 (Christchurch, NZ), Foenander Galleries (Auckland, NZ) and, Ashburton Art Gallery (Canterbury, NZ). She was a finalist in the Zonta Female Art Awards, Ashburton Art Gallery in 2020, 2021 & 2024
As an abstract minimalist, contemporary artist, Polly’s constructions encourage her audience to question the boundaries of traditional painting and the expected confines. She embraces the point of transition between sculpture and painting, binding the two through multi-faceted structures. She responds to the complexities of colour through nuanced hues which are enhanced by the translucence of her silks. Polly’s artworks quietly ask for your attention offering viewers something to look at as well as something to look through and beyond.
UPCOMING
Jul-Aug 2024, Solo exhibition, PG gallery192, Christchurch
Education
2014-18 Bachelor of Fine Arts, First Class Honours, Massey University, Wellington
Exhibited works
2023 The Land of Wonder, OTOMYS, Melbourne, Australia
A colour has many faces, PG gallery192, Christchurch
2022 Solo exhibition, Traces, PG gallery192, Christchurch
Summer, Group show, PG gallery192, Christchurch
Playground in a lake, Group show, Foenander Galleries, Auckland
Tomorrows Harvest, Group show, Foenander Galleries, Auckland
XMAS’22, Group show, PG gallery192, Christchurch
2021 Cinder and Smoke, Group show, Foenander Galleries, Auckland
ZAFAA’21, Zonta Female Art Awards, Ashburton Art Gallery
2020 Solo Exhibition, In absence of, PG gallery192, Christchurch
Bi Annual Art Exhibition & Sculpture Garden, St Margarets, Christchurch
ZAFAA’20, Zonta Female Art Awards, Ashburton Art Gallery
2019 XMAS’20, Group show, PG gallery192, Christchurch
Canterbury Medical Research Foundation, Wine & Art Auction, Christchurch
Solo Exhibition, Within and Without, PG gallery192, Christchurch
Frobisher Interiors Show Room, Auckland
2018 Bi Annual Art Exhibition & Sculpture Garden, St Margarets, Christchurch
PG gallery192 Pop up, Recent works, Christchurch CBD
2017 Exposure, Graduate Exhibition, Massey University, Wellington
Recent works, Wakefield Law Firm, Wellington
Loose Leaf, Group show, Potocki Paterson Gallery, Wellington
2016 Open Day group exhibition, Massey University, Wellington
Boundless Perceptions, Group show Massey University, Wellington
Design
2017 Exposure, Graduate Exhibition, Bachelor of Fine Arts Catalogue Design,
Massey University, Wellington
News
Introducing Polly Gilroy - Representation announcement & interview with OTOMYS
The Art Paper interview - Casting Shadows in Space
10 Exhibitions to see June 2023 - Curated exhibition ‘A Colour Has Many Faces’