Painting Out the Past:
The Life & Art of Patricia France
Paintings of a remarkable artist to be shown at Diocesan School

The remarkable paintings of the late Patricia France will once again be the focus of attention when a four-day celebration of her life and work opens at Diocesan School, Epsom, from September 9th-12th.

Since her death in 1995 France’s art has climbed in stature and the details of her extraordinary life have become more well known. Born in 1911, she was a debutante in the glittering upper echelons of Auckland society. Raised by her mother and aunts after the death of her father, her social trajectory should have been into a good marriage and material comfort. But her mother struggled financially, and Patricia found herself at the margins of her social peers. This, and a gruelling period caring for injured soldiers during World War Two and then her mother, who had Alzheimers disease, plunged her into depression. She was admitted to Ashburn Hall, the psychiatric hospital in Dunedin, where she stayed for several years, having shock treatment and, like Janet Frame, narrowly avoiding a pre- frontal leucotomy.

While in hospital she was befriended by art guru Rodney Kennedy, who introduced her to Dunedin’s art scene and the city’s equivalent of the Bloomsbury set. She became the friend of a great many of the leading painters of the time, including Ralph Hotere and Colin McCahon, and also of younger artists such as Jeffrey Harris and Peter Z Robinson. After a period of art therapy, she began a career as a painter at the age of 65. Her subtly disturbing portraits, ‘dune’ series and glowing flower paintings received warm reviews.

Now approximately 40 of her paintings will be on display at her old school, Diocesan School, in a four-day event that will raise funds for the school’s Art Department. Highlights of the programme will be the showing of a DVD of an interview in 1994 between the well known poet Brian Turner and Patricia France. Richard Donald’s biography will also be available for sale.

The event is open to the public from 10 am until 3 pm on Saturday 11 September and Sunday 12 September. Entrance to the school is from Clyde Road, Epsom, and signs will direct the public to the exhibition in School House.


Buy the beautiful  December 2008 Longacre publication of the same name if you want your own gallery of Patricia France's work at home - $44.99