Emma Hercus offers glimpses into a whimsical world shaped by her rural upbringing and coastal surroundings. Her playful yet complex narratives are filled with relatable figures, native plants and animals, with a sense of care for Aotearoa’s whenua and its creatures.
Known for her distinctive figurative and naïve paintings, the Plimmerton-based artist builds up colour and texture through layers of pigment, often scratching back the surface to reveal a sense of history beneath. Vague memories, folklore, and everyday scenes emerge and intertwine in her richly embellished works.
Emma Hercus is represented by Twentysix Gallery.
EXHIBITIONS
Kindred, Solo Show, 7 – 23 June 2024
Intertwined Narratives, Group Show, 23 November – 13 December 2024
AWARDS
Pataka Art Awards, winner of the Open Award 2024
Finalist in Craigs Aspiring Art prize 2024
NZ National Contemporary Art Award 2022 – Supreme winner
Finalist in Molly Morpeth Canady Awards 2023
Finalist in NZ Painting and Printmaking Awards 2021
Finalist in Craigs Aspiring Art prize 2021
Pataka Art Awards August 2019 - winner of The Creativity and Promise Award
INTERVIEW
PRESS
The New Zealand Herald | Kapiti News
Friends of Pātaka | 2024 Open Award winner Emma Hercus
Creative Matters Podcast | Emma Hercus - Figurative painter
ARTWORKS
INSTALLATION VIEWS
