In Memory of Gordon Brown (1931 - 2025) | The Chartwell Project

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In Memory of Gordon Brown (1931 - 2025)

By Rob Gardiner — 17 March 2025

The 1970 invitation to Five Waikato Painters, curated by Gordon Brown, with a photo of the Waikato Art Gallery, Chartwell Archives.

In 1970, Gordon arrived in Hamilton to take up the position of Director of the Waikato Art Gallery – an initiative of the Waikato Society of Arts. This was before the Hamilton City Council merged the Waikato Art Gallery with the Waikato Museum. He was a good friend to the artist community, opening the exhibition Five Waikato Painters in June 1970. This I think was his first exhibition as a curator. Having just published ‘An Introduction to New Zealand Painting 1839-1967’ with Hamish Keith the year before in 1969, he was an acknowledged authority on Colin McCahon’s work. In Hamilton, we all benefitted from his deep knowledge of McCahon’s practise, with Gordon introducing me to Colin in Auckland that year. Thank you Gordon.