Bruce Mortimer
"Bruce Mortimer is primarily a photorealist creating charcoal drawings of people, objects and landscape, and the interaction between them, at times incorporating some looseness or flirting with hyperrealism. He does, however, alternate between series that include abstract expressionist paintings in acrylics and mixed media including found industrial materials, as well as fine art photography.
Originally trained as a Geologist, since becoming a full-time artist in 1995 he has shown his work professionally in well over 150 exhibitions and art fairs, and won various awards, including the main award at the NZ Artshow.
He has been the resident artist at ASB Bank (2016. 2017), a finalist in the Parkin Prize and recently a judge for the 2024 Tasman National Art Prize. His monochrome photography is featured in a published 180 page single-author book (2007), and he has been involved in public art projects with his paintings.
Almost all his work references the various emotions of solitude, both positive and negative, often through elements of minimalism, and thereby represents a passive social commentary on our chaotic, materialistic and competitive world".