Gretchen Albrecht
Gretchen Albrecht is an abstract painter whose career spans over six decades. She completed a Diploma of Fine Arts (Hons Painting) at the University of Auckland Elam School of Fine Arts (1963). Her first solo exhibition at Ikon Gallery in 1964 gained her recognition for poured acrylic ‘stained canvases’. She is best-known today for her ‘shaped canvases’ (hemisphere, oval, and rectangle), which she began to produce in the 1980s. These works demonstrate mastery of colour: the subtle juxtapositions and positionings of complementary shades, and emotional expression through different hues. Alongside her abstract shaped paintings, her practice also includes watercolour, figurative painting, prints, and large-scale stainless steel sculptures. Awards include the Frances Hodgkins Award (1981), Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to painting (2000), and Arts Foundation of New Zealand Award for Patronage (2007).
