Edith Collier

In 2019 eight national and international artists were invited to take part in the first street art festival in Whanganui. Although there was no set theme, they were given some historical information, and a four-day time period to paint their murals on buildings in the central downtown area. Most of the artwork reflected some aspect of Whanganui’s past or present, and this made it a more interesting display than just a set of random murals. Artists included: Cinzah, Gina Kiel, Amok Island, J Chrisohoou, Hayley Welsh, Pat Perry, Cracked Ink, Claire Foxton, Elliot Francis Stewart. 

Pat Perry is an artist from Michigan. He often works itinerantly, and lives in Detroit. 

Painting of Edith Collier, accidentally painted on her 134th birthday, in her hometown of Whanganui. 

Perry painted this portrait of local Whanganui modernist artist, Edith Collier, who achieved success and acclaim in London where she studied and exhibited from 1913 to 1922. However, on her return to the conservative community in New Zealand, she was treated harshly especially for her nude paintings. Her father burnt many of her paintings and she ended up working on the family farm and helping with child-rearing.