Maria Kemp

Maria Kemp is an established and highly successful local Dunedin artist who excels at capturing the fluidity of the Otago landscape. She has painted for over 20 years and this turned into her full time profession in 2003.

“My desire has been to transpose conceptual ideas in visual language. Inland regions of Otago and greater Strath Taieri are recurring subjects in my painting. These landscapes have been centered on my childhood memories of Sunday drives with my family. I explore the ideas of memory, faith and perception. In my painting I portray the metaphorical notion of the earth stretched out like fabric, suggesting a craftsman, designer or omnipotent creator. I identify the earth as a garment with its patterns, folds, and complex ordered design, I see continuous affinities that fascinate and resonate within me. I am drawn to the concept of seeing all the elements in our lives being woven together on an unseen loom.” - Maria Kemp

Awards
2011 - Otago Art Society 1st Place, Gaye Rowcroft Award
1996 - Telecom Art Awards Winner
1994 - Otago Art Society People’s Choice Winner, Annual Art Awards

Her paintings feature in the public collections of the Dunedin City Council and Wellington Public Library and private collections in Canada, U.S.A., Scotland and Australia.