Since 1982, Richard Adams has been cementing his reputation as
one of New Zealand's leading contemporary abstract painters,
painting private commissions and showing widely throughout the
country. The Auckland-based artist is also internationally renowned
for his work, holding exhibitions in Tokyo, Sydney, New York, and
London.
A man of many talents, Adams is not only an established artist,
but also displays a passionate flair for the Jazz Violin as
frontman for the Nairobi Trio. He published his first book of poems
and etchings called 'Translations' in 1979 and in the same year
co-scripted, produced and directed the New Zealand film
'Artman.'
Adams' minimalist planes of vertical and horizontal panel
motifs, curves and lines are inspired by and abstracted from
nature, colours, textures, shapes and surfaces. Drawing from the
landscape, Adams uses canvas and paper as frames for the
exploration of coloured oil panels, ovals and line etchings,
anchored in a firm structural base and balanced by optical
restraint and painterly freedom.