Vibrant harmony: The art of Catherine Roberts

16 Jul 2024

Catherine Roberts’ latest body of work, showcased in her upcoming exhibition Renavigate, sees the artist revisiting the foundational elements of her practice. Known for her intuitive exploration of the interplay between colour and form, Catherine has crafted sixteen new works that exude vibrancy and harmony through contrast. 

In this latest collection, the Wellington-based artist delves into the dynamic relationship between earthen hues and more vibrant tones like energetic blues, lilacs and scarlet reds. Each piece presents lively and engaging abstract compositions that draw the viewer into a world of vibrant forms and colours. Catherine’s work is a testament to her ability to create harmony within contrast, a skill she has honed over years of dedicated practice. 

Cantaloupe Island, by Catherine Roberts.

Beats Per Minute, by Catherine Roberts.

Catherine’s sublime utopian landscapes evoke a sense of dynamic serenity. By intuitively layering hues, she constructs scenes that transport viewers into a captivating depth of naturalistic abstraction.  

Born in Manchester, England, and now residing in Wellington, Catherine’s artistic journey has been marked by a commitment to exploring the serendipitous nature of painting. Her work is characterised by an intuitive dialogue between artist and canvas, with no set intentions, but with the aim of captivating the viewer and continuing the conversation. 

Engaging with form and contrast to create works where rich and vibrant colours preside within abstract utopias, Catherine approaches each painting with an acceptance of serendipity, allowing areas of paint to move unhindered and colours to compose themselves.  

Three of Catherine's stunning paintings on display. 

Do The Two Step, by Catherine Roberts.

Catherine has exhibited her semi-abstract landscapes throughout New Zealand and was the recipient of the Signature Piece Award at The New Zealand Art Show in 2014. Her new exhibition, Renavigate, is an opportunity for both new and returning admirers of her work to experience her latest exploration of colour and form. 

In her art practice, Catherine utilises Resene paints in the initial stages of a painting, laying down a base colour on the canvas. She notes they tend to hold the textural layers of the medium she then applies, more so than regular artist’s acrylics. In the grounding layers of her latest paintings, on view in her exhibition,  Catherine has used a selection of colours, including Resene Havoc, Resene Fire, Resene Cab Sav, Resene Wonderland, Resene Pale Prim, Resene Pacifika and Resene Havelock Blue. 

Renavigate will be on view at Parnell Gallery from 23 July to 6 August 2024. 

Published: 16 Jul 2024