Trevor Moffitt: A Biography

Trevor Moffitt is a detailed and fascinating illustrated biography of a unique and successful New Zealand painter. Born in 1936 to a poor Southland family, where of necessity a hunter gatherer mentality prevailed, young Trevor set his mind on art school and becoming an artist. There were many hurdles to overcome. His father told him to leave school at age fifteen and, when Trevor refused, his father didn't speak to him for years and left him to finance his own schooling, clothing and other necessities. He succeeded in attending the art school at Ilam and wanted to paint New Zealand, but in his own way, where people were as important as the landscape. But to be producing figurative and narrative work when all around him were creating international modernism was considered by some to be missing the point . Furthermore, his bold, direct expressionist style was considered almost primitive and this led to slow recognition of his talent. Trevor Moffitt supported his family through the difficult early years by teaching secondary school art, where he eventually headed a large department at Burnside High School in Christchurch, and proved to be an excellent administrator. While still not achieving wide acclaim, he resigned from teaching in the 1980s, and stuck doggedly to his task. Trevor Moffitt became arguably New Zealand's leading narrative painter producing series such as the Gold Miners, Mackenzie, My Father's Life, Stanley Graham, and Hokonui Moonshine. Very much a humanist , he completed three Human Condition series. He died in April 2006.