JOHN DRAWBRIDGE (MBE) Born: Wellington, 27th December 1930. Died: Wellington, 24th July 2005.
John Drawbridge was a brilliant and diverse visual artist. Beginning his career as a textile designer, in a career spanning over fifty years, he created a challenging, exciting and varied body of work. Oil and watercolour painter, printmaker, muralist and stained glass artist, he possessed the mind and soul of an artist and the hands of a craftsman.
One of New Zealand’s leading and most accomplished artists, Drawbridge was awarded an MBE in 1978. His work is held in some of the world’s most celebrated collections, including the British Museum and the Victoria and Albert Museum, London. In New Zealand, his work is held in institutions such as Te Papa Tongarewa (Museum of New Zealand), the Auckland City Art Gallery and the Christchurch Public Art Gallery. His public works in New Zealand include the 40m long Beehive mural in the Banquet Hall, Parliament; the Expo ‘70 mural for Osaka, Japan; the New Zealand House, London, mural; and the stained glass windows, including the Stations of the Cross in the Home of Compassion Chapel, Island Bay, Wellington.
“John Drawbridge was not just a wonderful artist, he was a creative being who transcended into this world for a brief moment in time. He created a body of work that will be admired by the generations that follow him in the pursuit of creative and artistic expression.” Tony Drawbridge, June 2008, page 11, John Drawbridge.