Thomas Hancock is an oil painter from New Zealand. He has a Master of Fine Arts with Distinction from Ilan School of Fine Arts at the University of Canterbury. He currently lives and works in Otepoti Dunedin.
Thomas Hancocks paintings explore the uncanny. Seemingly abstract sculptural forms are rendered realistically to create a rub between reality and imagination. Working from a range of materials and found objects, Hancock works out his compositions through drawing, sculpture and photography. Chance and process serve to create a chaotic starting point which is then honed and dragged back to a sense of order and balance through painting. Hancock has had shows in New Zealand and Australia and has been a finalist in several art awards including the Parkin Drawing Prize and National Contemporary Award.
Artist C.V
b. 1991, Lower Hutt New Zealand
Education
2016 - MFA (Painting) w/ distinction, Ilam School of Fine Arts
2014 - BFA (Painting) w/ First Class Honours
Awards & Grants
2023 - Molly Morpeth Canaday Award Finalist
2021 - Parkin Drawing Prize Finalist
2019 - National Contemporary Award Finalist
2018 - Small Works Art Prize, Honourable mention
2017 - Ethel Susan Jones Travelling Scholarship
Parkin Drawing Prize Finalist
National Contemporary Award Finalist
NZ Painting and Printmaking Award Finalist
Cleveland National Art Award Finalist
2016 - Parkin Drawing Prize Finalist
2015 - Ethel Rose Overton Scholarship
2014 - Harry van der Lecq Scholarship
Exhibitions
2023
2023 Christmas Show, PG Gallery 192, Christchurch, 5th - 24th December
“Through the Gate”, Chambers Gallery, Christchurch, 24th May - 11th June
2022
2022 Christmas Show, PG Gallery 192, Christchurch, 29th November - 24th December
“Once Removed”, PG Gallery 192, Christchurch, NZ, 15th February - 11th March
2021
“Lighten the Load”, Chambers Gallery, Christchurch, NZ, 14th April - 1st May
2019
"Applectic Soborra", Fox Galleries, Melbourne, Australia, 7th April - 1st May
"Anon Memento", Off the Kerb Gallery, Melbourne, Australia, 8th February - 23rd February
2018
"Objection", Gallery Thirty Three, Wanaka, NZ, 1st August - 1st September
"Considerably Less Stressful" w/ Gareth Brighton, Chambers Gallery, Christchurch, NZ 8th February - 24th February
2017
“Parkin Prize Finalist Show, Academy of Fine Arts, Wellington, 2nd August – 7th September
“National Contemporary Art Award Exhibition”. Waikato Museum, 28th July – 5th November
“Murray and Co Group Exhibition”. The Piano, Armagh Street Christchurch, 14th – 28th June
2016
“Summer Group Show” 50 Work Gallery, Lyttleton, Christchurch,"Battersea" Group show at Chambers Gallery, 23rd August – 7th September
Abrakadabra: "Vessel"Group Show part of First Thursdays/ "Potions and PossibilitiesGroup show at the Beer Library
"Lie to Me" w/ Gareth Brighton, Janie Bruce, Olivia Chamberlain, Sam Clague, Tyne Gordon, 23rd June - 23rd August
"Simulacrum": The group portrait and the human figure Oxford Street Art Gallery, 6th May - 26th June
"It, Going On" w/Tjalling de Vries, Sam Clague and Gareth Brighton, Log Recording Studio, 22nd - 30th April
"At First Glance"(MFA show), Ilam School of Fine Arts, 29th February - 14th March
2015
"Smallville", The Columbo, November - December
"FIGG-ER-AY-SHUN" w/ Sam Clague, Gareth Brighton and Stephanie Mcewin, Chambers 241, 14th - 18th July
"Single Space" w/ Rachel Ratten, Chambers 241, 21st April - 2nd May
2013
"Acquired Taste" Part of "Student Series", SFA Campus Gallery, August
Publications
"Considerably Less Stressful: An exhibition where painting meets contemporary art, Dr. Warren Feeney, The Press, 12th February 2018
"Objection: The Paintings of Thomas Hancock" Dr. Andrew Paul Wood, Takahe, Issue. 89, April 2017
"At First Glance" Introductory essay by Dr. Andrew Paul Wood for exhibition catalogue, Ilam School of Fine Arts, March, 2016
"Student Gallery" Canta Magazine, vol. 85 Issue 9, 14th May 2014, p. 16 - 17, 26 - 27
Collections
2017, Chartwell collection 2015, Wrightmann collection