Award-winning artist, published writer, art tutor and creative arts therapist Clare (Claudie) Caldwell was born in Feilding, New Zealand, in 1951. In 1975 she graduated from Elam School of Fine Arts (Auckland) with a Bachelor of Fine Arts, majoring in painting. In the years that followed she extended her fine arts practice to include sculpture, photography, murals, installations and multi-media collaboratives, exhibiting in Wellington, London, the Manawatu and Auckland.
“I have been involved in art-making all of my life. As a young girl growing up and well into adolescence, art became a way of saying things, of communicating ideas about the world and myself in reaction to it, that I couldn’t find words to convey.”
Wishing to expand her world view, Clare travelled extensively during the 1980s, visiting art galleries, museums and ancient archaeological sites in Australia, the UK, Europe, the Mediterranean and more recently, India.
In 2000 she was asked by Mercy Hospice Auckland (then St Joseph’s Mercy Hospice) to pioneer a voluntary art therapy programme there, working with the dying and their families and in 2002 she completed the Post-Graduate Cert. Expressive Therapies at A.U.T.
As a result of this work, Martin Leach, Editor/Publisher of the “Ponsonby News” magazine asked her to write an ongoing monthly column called “The Art of Living.” www.ponsonbynews.co.nz
In 2016 Clare left Mercy Hospice Auckland to pioneer a voluntary art/art as therapy programme at Auckland City Mission, working with the homeless and marginalised, where she remains to this day.
Currently she is living in West Auckland where she continues to refine, develop and advance her fine arts practice within NZ and overseas.
Education.
2002: Post-Grad. Cert. Expressive Therapies. AUT.
1975: BFA. Elam School of Fine Arts. Auckland. NZ
Selected solo shows.
2018: “In Time”. (Painting Narrative). Depot Artspace, Devonport. (Auck).
2014: “Beyond the Veil”. (Paintings). Allpress Studio. (Auck).
2012: “Displacements and Dislocations” (Paintings). Te Karanga Gallery. (Auck).
2009: “Journey” The Director’s Cut. (Photographic narrative). Andreon Gallery. (Auck).
1995: “Journey” Edited by Ron Brownson, Senior Curator, Auckland City Art Gallery. (Photographic narrative). Lane Gallery. (Auck).
1992: “Journey” (Photographic narrative/installation). Manawatu Public Art Gallery. (Palmerston North).
1982: “Fragments”. (Paintings). Taj Mahal Gallery. (Weliington).
1981: Paintings. Taj Mahal Gallery. (Wellington).
1980: Paintings. Settlement Gallery. (Wellington).
1980: Paintings. Settlement Gallery. (Wellington).
1980: Paintings. At Long Last Gallery. (Wellington).
Selected Group Shows.
2018: Members Show. (Paintings). Depot Artspace (Auck).
2017: Members Show. (Paintings). Depot Artspace (Auck).
2010: Pain Awareness Art Competition. (Painting). Tabac Bar (Auck).
1996: Curated by John Daly-Peoples. (Painting). The Lane Gallery (Auck).
1996: “Alive and Desperate” Multi-media collaborative (Paintings).
B-Side Theatre, Auckland University.
1988: The Flag, London. Musical/visual collaborative with UK band “Oil in the Eye”.
Creative Events.
2019: Curate and participate in multi-media group exhibition, "Knowings & Nuances". Auckland City Mission Artists. St Matthews in the City. Auckland.
2019: Invited key note speaker at DNANZ Conference."Visions of the Earth. Options for the Future." Presentation and original paintings. St Francis Retreat Centre. Auckland.
2019: Curate exhibition of 14 assorted art works from the listed participating cities. Lifewise Merge Cafe, Auckland.
"This is Where I Live (TIWIL)" International Art Exchange of artists affected by homelessness, once again initiated by Cafe Art in London. Participating cities: London, Berlin, New York, Mumbai, Dar es Salaam and Auckland.
Auckland City Mission artists exhibit in all five overseas cities.
See radio interview here: 95bfm.com/bcast/homeless-art-exibition-w-clare-caldwell
2018: Curate multi-media group exhibition “LIFE”. Auckland City Mission artists. Depot Artspace, (Auck).
2018: Work with Café Art in London. Co-curate global cultural exchange of artworks. Auckland City Mission artists exhibit in London, Berlin and New York. Artists from London, New York, Berlin, Melbourne and Mumbai exhibit in Auckland as part of “LIFE” exhibition.
2018: Radio NZ interview with Lynn Freeman: www.radionz.co.nz/national/programmes/standing-room-only/audio/2018657742/clare-caldwell-and-the-art-of-the-homeless or search: radio nz Clare Caldwell.
2017: “Good Sorts” TV One with Hadyn Jones: www.tvnz.co.nz/one-news/new-zealand/good-sorts-woman-started-artclass-homeless or search: good sorts Clare Caldwell
2017: Curate group exhibition. Merge Lifewise Café, (Auck). Mission artists.
2017: Curate group exhibition. Sidewalk Gallery, (Auck). Mission artists.
2016: Curate 1st multi-media group exhibition of Auckland City Mission artists’ works (paintings, carvings, ceramics, masks, drawings). Depot Artspace, (Auck).
2016: Keynote speaker. Dream Networks Aotearoa NZ (DNANZ). “How Visions and Dreams have affected my Life and Art”. (Auck).
2016: Illustrate “Healing the Nightmare, Freeing the Soul”. Written by Margaret M. Bowater (MA). (26 line drawings).
2014: Curate solo photographic exhibition. Peter Ralph (Scruff). Mercy Hospice Auckland.
2010: Winner. Pain Awareness Art Competition. Tabac Bar, (Auck). Art critics’ and viewers choice. Painting: “Broken Wings”
1999: Buddhist Festival of Peace. (Auck) Painting.
1999: St Barnabas Creation Festival.(Auck). Invited artist (Photographs).
1980: Design logo for Wellington punk band “The Steroids” (Painting)..
Works Held in Private Collections.
Works currently held in private collections in Wellington, Auckland, London, Tokyo, L.A. and Perth.
