Shane Cotton
Cotton established himself at the forefront of the renaissance of Māori art in the 1990s and his distinguished career now spans over three decades. His practice is underpinned by recurrent questioning of his own bicultural identity, and our collective cultural identity.
b. 1964, Upper Hutt, New Zealand (Ngā Puhi, Ngāti Rangi, Ngāti Hine and Te Uri Taniwha)
Lives in Kororāreka, Russell
Shane Cotton is as an internationally renowned New Zealand artist, who has exhibited extensively in New Zealand and abroad. In 2008, he received a Laureate Award from the New Zealand Arts Foundation and, in 2012 was made an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to the visual arts.
Cotton established himself at the forefront of the renaissance of Māori art in the 1990s and his distinguished career now spans over three decades. His practice is underpinned by recurrent questioning of his own bicultural identity, and our collective cultural identity. To offer a view into Te Ao Māori (Māori world view), Shane had to commit to learning and understanding Mātauranga Māori (knowledge). As his practice developed, he has built on the knowledge of his ancestors, actively absorbing and re-examining the past to contextualise what biculturalism means in the present day. The symbols from Māori and Pakeha cultural histories in his paintings are predominantly derived from post-contact Māori art, and prompt conversations about nationhood and identity.
Cotton has created a distinctive iconography, which draws on both European and Māori historical sources, and explores complex issues of colonization, bicultural exchange, and identity. His work frequently makes reference to Māori folk art – art that developed post-contact, and incorporated elements from European culture. This type of art was particularly prominent in the first half of the 20th century, and it is often seen to encapsulate the complex cross-cultural exchange that came with colonisation. Cotton has explored such subject matter in his art practice, creating contemporary art works that critically engage with the complexities of bi-cultural discourse in New Zealand. Cotton has shaped this swathe of visual references and touchstones into a contemporary visual lexicon. This has proven highly successful and has been the foundation of his ever-growing critical acclaim.
Having spent several years in Manawatu, Cotton is now based in Northland. His formative years were in Te Awakairangi Hutt Valley. His extensive exhibition history is highlighted by exhibitions as New Zealand’s representative at the Prague Bienniale in 2005, at the Asia Society Museum (New York), the Museum of Contemporary Art (Sydney) The Dowse Art Museum, Christchurch Art Gallery Te Puna o Waiwhetū, and IMA (Brisbane 2012-13). His works are held in all major public collections in New Zealand and Australia.
Gow Langsford Gallery first represented Shane Cotton 1998-2009 and again from 2021.
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This Must Be the Place
Inaugural Exhibition 6 Apr - 4 May 2024 OnehungaThis Must Be the Place is the inaugural exhibition at Gow Langsford’s flagship Onehunga premises. It brings together the work of a diverse range of artists who respond to themes of place, belonging, and cultural legacy. In examining locality in Aotearoa and Oceania through a modern and contemporary lens, This Must Be the Place showcases a diverse range of practices and contextual frameworks from the region.Read more -
Group Exhibition
9 Nov - 3 Dec 2022 Auckland CityThis exhibition celebrates the monochromatic with works by Shane Cotton, Ralph Hotere, Colin McCahon, Richard Killeen and Gordon Walters.Read more -
Tiki & Maunga: New Painting
Shane Cotton 27 Jul - 20 Aug 2022Tiki & Maunga: New Painting focuses on a small survey of Shane Cotton's recent practice, bringing together paintings and sculptural forms. It will also mark the launch of a new suite of six limited edition screenprints.Read more -
1993 – 2003: A Decade in the Making
Shane Cotton 5 Feb - 1 Mar 2014 Lorne StreetA decade culminating in a respective exhibition held at City Gallery Wellington and Auckland Art Gallery marks a period of significant importance in Shane Cotton’s career. The works chosen as part of Gow Langsford Gallery’s 1993 – 2003: A Decade in the Making include pivotal early works alongside major works from the early 2000s.Read more
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Reuben Paterson, Brett Graham and Shane Cotton in Te Hau Whakatonu | A Series of Never-Ending Beginnings
Landmark survey exhibition at Govett-Brewster Art Gallery August 15, 2023Reuben Paterson, Brett Graham and Shane Cotton are included in a landmark survey exhibition at Len Lye Centre/Govett Brewster Art Gallery from 5 August 2023...Read more -
New Work by Shane Cotton in Hayman Kronfeld Building, Britomart
March 17, 2023A new painting by Gallery artist Shane Cotton has been installed in the newly refurbished heritage Hayman Kronfeld Building on Galway Street in Britomart, Auckland....Read more
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Sydney Contemporary 2022 | Booth B02
8 - 11 Sep 2022The central focus of our presentation is a grouping of bronzes by Barry Flanagan (1941-2009, UK). His anthropomorphic hares engage in a variety of playful and spirited activities; they bound, balance, dance and contemplate. Shown alongside is a suite of new works by Shane Cotton (1965, NZ), and a selection of monochromatic works by revered painter Colin McCahon (1919-1987, NZ) together with paintings by John Pule (1962, Niue), Gordon Walters (1919-1995) and Max Gimblett (1935, NZ/USA).Read more -
Shane Cotton at Melbourne Art Fair 2008
Booth C39 30 Jul - 3 Aug 2008Gow Langsford Gallery’s 2008 Melbourne Art Fair stand will show an exciting new direction in Shane Cotton’s practice. Works in the exhibition, were developed during Cotton’s three month artist’s residency at Artspace in Sydney earlier this year. At the fair, the publication The Extended Act of Looking will also be launched.Read more