After discovering Mr. Kerr's work in Westport and Charleston, NZ, we were excited to curate a showing of his work during the summer months of 2019-20 in a solo show entitled ‘TWO WORLDS' in Greytown. 

Using abstract form to manifest energy and motion, New Zealand artist Lance Kerr specialises in expressive abstract paintings. His work is lush and complex while retaining a simplicity and contemporary elegance, re-imagining abstract expressionism into meta-modern aesthetics. Kerr’s paintings are multi-layered works, combining energetic, gestural strokes with striking colour and texture. Exploring the interplay between expressionism and minimalism, he translates contrasting – but not necessarily conflicting – feelings by evoking different types of aesthetic gesture to work in harmony, materially interlinked by the deft hand of the artist. These disparate elements interact with one another to form a cohesive whole, moving in tandem rather than simply in unison. 

Born in New Zealand in 1975, Kerr is a qualified Qigong teacher and based on New Zealand’s West Coast on the south island, exhibiting his artwork regularly since 1999 throughout the country. In 2009 he was selected in PREVIEW 09, a group show of emerging South Island artists, curated by NZ art consultant, gallery director, art historian, art critic and commentator, Dr Warren Feeney. A two-time finalist for the NZ Aspiring Art Prize, Kerr’s work was featured in the 2016 culture section of Australia’s The Origins Centre, a registered charitable, not-for-profit NGO founded in 1983 which explores a variety of subjects including environmental activism, art, bush regeneration, mental health care, youth and children's education and play. Kerr then collaborated with QB Studios in 2017 for a solo show entitled ‘LIMINAL’ in Christchurch, and currently has paintings on display with them in Christchurch and Auckland. 

Kerr made his first trip to Japan in 2019, which caused a profound impact on his creative process. His interest in Japanese culture has been present throughout his career, having studied Japanese literature at Canterbury University, where he also learned art theory after gaining a diploma in visual communication design from Ara Institute.

In 2021, his artwork was featured in CURATORIAL VOLUME.3 (published by Melbourne’s Capsule Books), a captivating and insightful behind-the-scenes look at the lives of today’s leading contemporary artists working in multiple disciplines from around the globe whose creative practices and trends shape current visual culture. That same year, Kerr was chosen as ‘artist of the week’ by ART EDIT MAGAZINE which features interior designers, artists, collectors and galleries across Australia, New Zealand, and beyond. 

In 2022, Kerr was invited to take part in the International Collective Art exhibit 'LITTLE TREASURES’ in Bologna, Italy, at the Galleria De’Marchi, curated by Paola Trevisan & Trevisan International Art where his work was featured among a group showing of international artists from 26 countries around the world. Following his success with the show, Kerr was invited in 2023 to showcase his work at ‘VISIONS’, an international art fair in Venice, Italy, curated by ITSLIQUID Group, in collaboration with Venice Events, ACIT Venice – Italian-German Cultural Association, and EGO’ Boutique Hotel. 

Kerr’s art is also being featured in ‘WHAT IS ART?’ at the 2023 Dcon Lab series by DConstruction Arts, a Los Angeles based non-profit arts organization that works with world class artists and provides accessibility to all audiences to tackle social, political, and emotional issues while exploring themes derived from conversations in our society that effect our identities and understanding of self.

Instagram: @lancekerrpainter