Robert Ellis

Ellis was born in 1929 and trained at the Royal College of Art, London, where his influences included Francis Bacon and Henry Moore. He has taught since 1957 at the Elam School of Art, Auckland University. His more recent works are mostly figurative and include recognisable forms that are set in shallow space, rather like a still life. He has included many symbolic references to connections to Ratana and Ringatu faiths through his wife's family. In all these images there is a sophisticated handling of design aspects as well as a rich colouristic and textural treatment of the acrylic medium.