Anna Lois White
Born in Auckland, Lois White studied at the Elam School of Fine Arts under Archie Fisher and taught for 8 years at Takapuna Grammar School, before becoming a tutor in painting at Elam until her retirement in 1963. Exhibiting regularly from the 1930's and into the 1950's, Lois White was often singled out in group shows, but it was not until after she was 70, that the first comprehensive solo exhibition of her work was held. To a certain extent unfashionable in the 1960's and 1970's, and not concerned with the mainstream tradition of landscape painting in New Zealand, her unique contribution to New Zealand art has received minimal attention in our major art history texts.
Now, however, in the context of the current return to figuration in the arts, her work is re-evaluated because of the social comment, myth and allegory as well as the biblical narrative and themes predominant in her work. Her commitment to socialism and strong feelings about social injustice are expressed in many of her works and in particular in "The War Makers" which is in the Auckland City Art Gallery collection.
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