Judy Darragh (b. Ōtautahi Christchurch, New Zealand) is renowned for her bold and brilliant use of colour and her use of found materials. Working across sculpture, video, collage, jewellery, photography, and poster art, Darragh emerged as an artist during 1980s, when her witty, subversive approach to making was seen as a critical response to rampant materialism and free-market reforms.
An avid collector, Darragh delves into the relationship between ‘high’ and ‘low’ artforms, objects and their surroundings, and the process of imbuing discarded items with fresh significance or value through her practice. She has a fondness for everyday objects and detritus – bottles, glassware, corks, feathers, tikis, beads, paint, flowers, cake tins – and is particularly interested in our contemporary fixation on plastic, a material she increasingly turns to in its recycled form, as a way to reflect on environmental issues. Darragh talks of embracing joy and humour in her work as an avenue for those more critical, often provocative discussions, allowing for the work to “sort of unravel in front of you.”
Darragh has worked as an art teacher for much of her career, receiving the Order of New Zealand Merit for her services to the arts in 2022. She is a staunch advocate for other artists, and alongside roles developing artist-run spaces, including Artspace Aotearoa, Teststrip, and Cuckoo. She recently co-founded advocacy group Artsmakers Aotearoa, as well as Equity for Artists, and co-editor of Femisphere, a publication supporting women’s art practices in Aotearoa.
Darragh lives and works in Auckland Tāmaki Makaurau. She exhibits extensively throughout Aotearoa New Zealand and her work is held in numerous public collections, including Christchurch Art Gallery Te Puna o Waiwhetū, Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa, Wellington Te Whangaui-a-Tara, Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki, Govett-Brewster Art Gallery, New Plymouth, and Sarjeant Gallery Te Whare o Rehua Whanganui. Recent exhibitions include Perilous: Unheard Stories from the Collection, Christchurch Art Gallery Te Puna Waiwhetū (2022); Foil, Montalvo Arts Centre, San Francisco, USA (2017), Girls on Hope, The Physics Room, Christchurch (2017), and the major sculptural commission, Limbo, North Atrium Sculpture Commission, Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki (2015-2018). In 2004 the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa mounted the major survey exhibition Judy Darragh: So … you made it? which was accompanied by a major catalogue published by Te Papa Press.
RECENT EXHIBITIONS
2022
Memory Foam, Two Rooms, Auckland Tāmaki Makaurau
2021
Competitive Plastics, Objectspace, Auckland and The Centre of Contemporary Art Toi Moroki (CoCA), Ōtautahi Christchurch
2020
WestFarbe, CoCA Centre of Contemporary Art, Ōtautahi Christchurch
2019
Tunnel of Love, Masons Lane Wellington
In Kahoots, Two Rooms, Auckland Tāmaki Makaurau
2018
Eyeliner, Weasel Gallery, Kirikiriroa Hamilton
White Rainbow, Ramp Gallery, Kirikiriroa Hamilton
2017
Build Up, Two Rooms Gallery, Auckland Tāmaki Makaurau
Foil, Montalvo Arts Centre, San Francisco, USA
Girls on Hope, The Physics Room, Ōtautahi Christchurch
Ummmm, Jonathan Smart Gallery, Ōtautahi Christchurch
ACADEMIC
Diploma Visual Communication and Design Wellington Polytechnic (1981)
Secondary Teaching Certificate Epsom Teachers College (1982) Professional
Teaching Fellow, Elam School of Fine Arts University of Auckland (2005-15)
Lecturer, Manukau School of Visual Arts, Manukau Institute of Technology (1995-2010)
AWARDS & RESIDENCIES
Lucas Artists Fellowship, Montalvo Art Centre, San Francisco (2016-19)
The Tower Studio, Queens College Melbourne, Artists in Residence (1995)
Ilam School of Fine Arts, University of Canterbury, Artist in Residence (1993)
Public Art Advisory Panel, Auckland City Council (2009-2013)