New Zealand is home to a diverse array of native birds that hold an important place in the country’s culture and biodiversity. Many artists over the years have sought to capture the beauty and uniqueness of New Zealand’s avian life through their work.
Early Bird Artists
Some of the earliest depictions of New Zealand birds come from the work of traveling artists in the late 18th and early 19th centuries. Artists like Sydney Parkinson, the illustrator on Captain James Cook’s first voyage to New Zealand in 1769, produced some of the first drawings of birds like the kiwi and huia. In the early 19th century, natural history illustrators like John Gould and George R. Gray began publishing illustrated books featuring New Zealand birds as they aimed to catalog the country’s unique fauna.
Johannes Keulemans
One of the most influential illustrators of New Zealand birds was the Dutch artist Johannes Keulemans (1842-1912). Though he never visited New Zealand himself, Keulemans illustrated many books about the country’s birdlife in the late 19th century, like Sir Walter Buller’s A History of the Birds of New Zealand (1873) and Frederick Hutton’s Birds of New Zealand (1871). Known for his lifelike and dynamic portrayals of birds, Keulemans’s depictions of species like the takahe and kakapo stand out for their attention to detail and artistic skill.
Walter Lawry Buller
New Zealand native Sir Walter Lawry Buller (1838-1906) was one of the country’s most prominent early ornithologists. In addition to his comprehensive book Birds of New Zealand, Buller painted watercolors of native birds and commissioned artworks to be used as lithographs in his publications. His artworks aimed for scientific accuracy in depicting species anatomies and behaviors. Many of Buller’s artworks were produced by the preeminent bird artist of the time, John Gerrard Keulemans, whom Buller had mentored early in Keulemans’s career.
Gottfried Lindauer
The Bohemian-born painter Gottfried Lindauer (1839–1926) is one of New Zealand’s best-known colonial-era artists for his detailed portraits of Māori subjects. In addition to his striking paintings of Māori chiefs and warriors, Lindauer also depicted native bird species like the tui, fantail, and yellowhammer. His ornithological paintings are admired for their rich colors and careful attention to feathers and form.
Brian Chudleigh
Contemporary New Zealand painter Brian Chudleigh (1926-1986) is considered one of the country’s finest bird artists. Based in Dunedin, Chudleigh painted New Zealand birds from life for over 30 years. He is particularly well-known for his portrayals of penguins, like the yellow-eyed penguin. Chudleigh’s works are celebrated for their accuracy, sensitivity, and ability to capture the personality of his avian subjects.
Ralph Chudleigh
Following in his father Brian Chudleigh’s footsteps, Ralph Chudleigh (b. 1951) is another contemporary New Zealand artist who focuses on birdlife. Based in Auckland, Ralph Chudleigh is a self-taught, full-time painter of birds from around New Zealand and the world. He is known for his impressionistic style and dedication to portraying birds in their natural habitats.
Raymond Ching
Wildlife artist Raymond Ching (b. 1959) is recognized for his unique illustrations of New Zealand birds and reptiles characterized by bold outlines and vibrant colors. Based in Te Anau, Ching portrays native bird species like the kiwi, kākāpō, kea, and takahē in his distinct, decorative style. His works are widely published and aimed at fostering awareness of New Zealand’s unique avifauna.
Jane Brake
Jane Brake is an acclaimed Oamaru-based wildlife painter and printmaker. Though she focuses on New Zealand’s native birds and endemic species like the yellow-eyed penguin and kiwi, Brake is also known for her vivid portraits of African wildlife. Her works are impressionistic but capture precise details of feathers and anatomy.
Shirley O’Connor
Shirley O’Connor (1945-2004) was a leading New Zealand bird artist who focused on portraying native birds in watercolors. Fascinated by birds from childhood, O’Connor studied taxidermy and ornithology to perfectly capture bird anatomy and feather details in her art. She was official artist for the Ornithological Society of New Zealand for many years and completed an acclaimed field guide to New Zealand’s shorebirds before her death.
Kelvin Floyd
Artist Kelvin Floyd is renowned for his contemporary, semi-abstract portrayals of native birds that capture their energy and character. Based in Tauranga, Floyd focuses especially on endangered endemics like the kiwi, takahē, kokako, and kākāpō. His works blend realism with bold colors and loose, energetic brushstrokes to convey his passion for these unique species.
Other Notable Artists
Many other New Zealand artists have specialized in depicting native birds in various styles, including Tony Willis (acrylic paintings), Andrew Plant (etchings), and Grahame Sydney (landscape paintings incorporating birds). Some leading Māori artists like Fatu Feu’u and Darryn George integrate native birds like the kererū and kōkako in their works conveying indigenous culture and narratives.
Conclusion
From early natural history illustrators to contemporary painters, New Zealand’s distinctive and threatened native birds have long inspired the country’s artists. As symbols of New Zealand’s natural heritage, birds like the tui, kiwi, and kea continue to be favorite subjects for artists aiming to celebrate the country’s unique wildlife through their work.
Artist | Period | Notable Works Featuring Birds |
---|---|---|
Sydney Parkinson | 18th century | Drawings of kiwi, huia, tui |
John Gould | 19th century | The birds of New Zealand (1883) |
Johannes Keulemans | 19th century | Illustrations in Buller’s History of the Birds of New Zealand |
Walter Lawry Buller | 19th century | Watercolors of native birds, Birds of New Zealand (1873) |
Gottfried Lindauer | 19th century | Paintings of native birds like tui, fantail, yellowhammer |
Brian Chudleigh | 20th century | Paintings of penguins and other native birds |
Ralph Chudleigh | Contemporary | Impressionist paintings of NZ birds |
Raymond Ching | Contemporary | Stylized illustrations of kiwi, kākāpō, kea, takahē |
Jane Brake | Contemporary | Watercolor paintings of birds like kiwi, yellow-eyed penguin |
Kelvin Floyd | Contemporary | Semi-abstract paintings of kiwi, takahē, and other endangered birds |