Barry Read grew up on the North Island's west coast. He attended Elam School of Fine Arts in the early 1970s before painting and exhibiting full-time. In 1980, in a change of direction, he travelled to the UK and joined the BBCtv Design Department and worked on major productions there. Since returning to Aotearoa/New Zealand he has continued working as a 3-dimensional designer and draughtsman, predominantly in film and television set design. In 2018 he 'returned to roots' and produced a body of work for an exhibition at Mangawhai Artists Gallery. Below are images of works from that show followed by a short exhibition bio., a 'Zone C' interview and previous works.
Selected exhibitions 2018 'Zone C'. Solo exhibition at Mangawhai Artists Gallery 2013 'X'. Group show at the Letham Gallery, Auckland 2012 '3-2-1'. Group show at the Letham Gallery 2003 Invited artist for 'Moments of the America's Cup'. Viaduct Basin, Auckland. Group exhibition at the Maritime Museum 1994 'Exterior'. (Video re-edit). 3rd Canterbury Short Film Festival. Academy Cinema, Christchurch 1992 'Art is a Bourgeois Activity'. Solo exhibition at the CoCA Gallery, Christchurch 1989 '01-01'. Solo exhibition of Laser Prints, St Petersburg, Russia 1986 'Exterior'. (Video/Art Pack). Miro Foundation Cinema & Central University Faculty of Fine Arts, Barcelona, Spain 1984 '1000 Mexicans "News of You"'. (Music Video Animation). BBC 'Whistle Test' and at the Institute of Contemporary Arts (ICA), London, UK. (Also on YouTube) 1982 'New City - New Work'. Solo exhibition at the Parallax Gallery, London, UK 1976 'Flowers & Wreaths'. Solo exhibition at Barry Lett Gallery, Auckland 1975 'Strange Angels'. Solo exhibition at Barry Lett Gallery, Auckland 1975 'Prints and Drawings'. Group show at the McDougall Gallery, Christchurch 1974 'Count Boris de Pollok'. Solo exhibition at Barry Lett Gallery, Auckland, Waikato Society of Arts, Hamilton and the Labyrinth Gallery, Christchurch 1973/74 'New Year - New Works'. Group show at Barry Lett Gallery, Auckland 1972 'Transition'. 2 person show at The Foundry, Auckland 1972 'B+H Art Award' finalist. Touring group exhibition 1971 'NZ Young Contemporaries'. Group show at the Auckland City Art Gallery
Works are in public collections in NZ and the UK and in private collections in NZ, the UK, Australia, Spain and Russia
No Right Way Up 1989 Mixed media & 3-dimensional. +1050 x 700. Produced in one session over 4 & 5 June 1989 The background to this work is the English translation of the students' declaration. The motivation came the same day when state crushed the people in Tiananmen Square. And when I looked for inspiration in that day's paper I found instead the glib fabrications of advertising. 'Always gliding doors', billionaires who are 'bashful'. And control. No Right Way Up is made from the torn drawers from a drafting cabinet. Fixed together with 'Sentinel' wire. Painted and assembled in an 'urgency' of time. I really wanted it to be done. The idea was for it to deteriorate but it's improved over time . Today it's my favourite painting.
Racing Home 2003 Acrylic on board. +650x1800. Painted during the America's Cup - 'invited artist'.