Jeff Thomson
Jeff Thomson, born Castor Bay, Auckland, New Zealand, in 1957, attended Elam School of Fine Arts, University of Auckland, graduating with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in 1981. In 1980 he was based in Dunedin and spent the year travelling and walking around the South Island. He was Frances Hodgkins Fellow at the University of Otago in 1995. Jeff and his wife, Shona Cameron, live in a huge corrugated iron shed in Helensville, North Auckland, that is home, workshop and an ever-increasing library of corrugated iron. Working mainly in corrugated iron and new corrugated steel, he has yet to run out of ideas for exploring the material’s potential.
His works are displayed in major private and public gallery collections in New Zealand and Australia, and he works on commissions in both countries. His corrugated iron Holden car, (1991-1992), once parked outside Bowen Galleries on The Terrace, Wellington, has been exhibited in New Zealand and Australia. Its motor was ‘donated’ by a motorcycle gang. The Holden is now in the collection of Te Papa Tongarewa Museum of New Zealand.
Jeff has completed numerous public commissions including the Noise walls along 16/18 highway systems in north west Auckland, the Whangaparaoa Public Library near Orewa, the Birkenhead public library, Milford Village plaza, the Helensville toilets and of course the iconic Taihape gumboot. Private commissions are a speciality and there are very few animals Jeff has not reproduced!
Solo Exhibitions
- Paper clip chain, 2024
- Frame, 2018
- Squash/Mold/Heavy Metal/ Press, 2014
- Chooks, 2014
- New works, 2011
- Feathers, 2010
- New work, 2008
- New work, 2006
Group Exhibitions
- Wrapped, 2023
- You won’t believe your eyes…a visual miscellany, 2023
- Land is the mother of man, 2022
- About time, 2021
- Wrapped 2019
- Jeff Thomson and Ans Westra: Natural History, 2016
- Wrapped, 2015
- Summer Show, 2013-2104
- Louise Purvis, Jeff Thomson, Ans Westra: Hanging together, 2012
Red French Knit, 2013, powder coated baby iron, 1200 x 400 x 4500mm This work toured several public Art galleries in touring exhibition Corrugations, The Art of Jeff Thomson 2013-2015 and has been re-produced in a number of publications $4200.
Jeff Thomson, Fireman's knot - blue, 2024, corrugated iron, 1700 x 490 x 240 mm $4200
Jeff Thomson, Abstract, 2024, meccano, steel screws, 1520 x 460 x 210 mm $2800
Jeff Thomson, Abstract - plastic, 2024, meccano $2900
Jeff Thomson, Mahoe leaf, 2022, screen printed corrugated steel,1020 x 400 mm $2600. Larger sizes & commissions are available on request
Jeff Thomson, Bouquet, 2023, screen printed corrugated iron, 1200 x 800 x 140 mm $5000. Variable sizes & commissions are available on request
Jeff Thomson, Knitting needles, 2024, of sizes $950
Jeff Thomson, Chook, 2022, corrugated steel, 470 x 400 x 160 mm $1900. Other sizes and forms available on request.
Jeff Thomson, Paper clip circle, 2024, paper clips & enamel paint, 350 x 320 x 80 mm $1200
Jeff Thomson, Kete, 2024, corrugated iron $2900