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Brett a'Court

Bio

brett acourt


Brett a'Court has been a full time artist for twenty five years. His work can be found in both private and public collections throughout Aotearoa.  Brett's works are layered with symbolism and Christian iconography, with narratives of the afterlife. He also explores questions of identity and his place in Aotearoa.

 Over the last three years Brett has been working on woollen blankets stretched on canvas supports. The blankets are the connection and metaphor between colonisation, Christianity and the Maori prophets. He also has been creating paintings in canvas more recently exploring his Pakeha identity and European heritage.

 In 2021 he won the 2021 National Contemporary Art award's runner-up and was winner of the Hugo Charitable Trust Award. Brett was also a finalist in the 2022, 2023, 2024 and 2025 National Contemporary Art awards, 2023 Molly Morpeth Canaday Award, the 2023, 2025 and 2026 NZ Paint and Printmaking Awards, the Merit winner of the 2024 Craig Aspiring Art prize and a finalist in the 2024 Walker and Hall Waiheke Art awards.

 Brett has a strong collector base for his work which has its own place cultural conversation in Aotearoa. Many people are moved, delighted and attracted by the visually fascinating and rich work that Brett produces. Brett is inspired by his cultural roots a passion for history, and a deep spiritual philosophy behind his work.


 

CV

CV

      SELECTED SOLO EXHIBITIONS

      2018
      1. ‘Sheep,goats and other introduced spirits’, solo show Hangar Art Gallery
      2016
      1. ‘Flesh and Spirit’ solo show, Pah Homestead, TSB Bank Wallace Arts Centre, Auckland.
      2015
      1. ‘Exhibition of selected works from the collection,’ Whangarei art Museum .
      2013
      1. ‘Visions of Reality’ solo show, Museum of the Vernacular Auckland
      2009
      1. ’Pathos’ solo show Satellite Gallery Auckland
      2008
      1. ’Do not Fear’ solo show, Wallace Gallery Auckland

      SELECTED GROUP EXHIBITIONS

      2020
      1. ‘Mugshots” Hangar Gallery’ group exhibition
      2. MD(Megan Dickinson gallery) gallery group exhibition
      2017
      1. ‘Printing & Paint Atelier’ group show, with Rusell G shaw, Scott McFarlane, Megan Corbett, Chris Wilkie, Hangar Art gallery
      2015
      1. ’House of Cards’ group show The Incubator, Tauranga
      2013
      1. ‘Grottos, Shrines and Sacred Spaces’ with Karl Maughan, J.K Russ, Siren Delux, Peter Ireland, Thermostat Gallery, Palmerston North
      2. ‘Fabrications’ group show with Allie Eagle, Jeff Thompson, Jessica Crothall, 3rd Space Auckland
      3. ‘Several Artists’ group show with James Robinson, Jane Zusters, Alistair Nisbet-Smith, Geoff Tune, Art-Artz
      2011
      1. ‘Credo and Quest’ group show Whangarei Art Museum
      2010
      1. Group show Village Arts Gallery, Kohukohu Hokianga
      2. ‘Crucifixion’ group show with David Sarich and Barry Squire, Hangar Gallery Whangarei

      COLLECTIONS & AWARDS

      Collections
      1. The Whangarei Art Museum Collection
      2. The James Wallace Arts Trust Collection
      3. Art-Artz Collection
      Awards
      1. 2025 NZ Paint and Printmaking Awards Finalist
      2. 2024 NZ Paint and Printmaking Awards Finalist
      3. 2023 NZ Paint and Printmaking Awards Finalist
      4. 2008 Wallace Art Award Finalist
      5. Whakatane National Ceramics Finalist 2003

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