Mary Wirepa (1904–1971), also known as Mary Wi Repa, was a visual artist of Māori descent born in Auckland, New Zealand.[1] She spoke partial Maori but mainly English.
Growing up Mary Wi Repa had a love of music and only began painting seriously around 1958, when she was in her 50s. She developed a love of landscape painting, particularly romanticism combined with an interpretive realism.[2] Wi Repa had planned to attend the Elam School of Fine Arts at the University of Auckland, and applied for a tuition grant from Māori Affairs, however she decided against attending.[3]
Although of Māori ancestry, Wi Repa preferred not to directly reference her culture, but rather to draw her inspiration from the environment around her.[4] Her works often include cloud imagery or landscapes, including the piece Otoko, Gisborne (date unknown).[4] She believed her talent came through from her grand uncle Arthur Gundry who had been accepted into the Royal Academy of London in the 19th century who had been mentored by Joseph Jenner Merrett.
Wi Repa married at the age of nineteen to Romio Wi Repa and had nine children while living in Whanarua Bay, the subject of many of her paintings. Four of her children were artists, namely first born Edward WiRepa Arthur Wi Repa, Kathleen Neenee, Rosemary Connell, Alice Bernadette Higgins as well as her grandson Ivan Wi Repa who was known as a classical pianist in the Māori music industry / community.[3]
References
^"Mary Wirepa". Auckland Art Gallery. Retrieved 17 September 2017.
^"Mary Wirepa". ngataonga.org.nz. Retrieved 17 September 2017.
^ abc"Mary Wirepa". collections.tepapa.govt.nz. Retrieved 17 September 2017.
^ ab"Otoko, Gisborne". Auckland Art Gallery. Retrieved 17 September 2017.
^"Mary Wi Repa, and Selwyn Muru posing in the Public Library, Wellington". National Library of New Zealand. Retrieved 17 September 2017.
^"Paintings by Mary Wi Repa, Willeston Galleries, Wellington". National Library of New Zealand. Retrieved 17 September 2017.
Further reading
Artist files for Mary Wi Repa are held at:
E. H. McCormick Research Library, Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki
Te Aka Matua Research Library, Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa
February 25, 2023
mary, wirepa, 1904, 1971, also, known, mary, repa, visual, artist, māori, descent, born, auckland, zealand, spoke, partial, maori, mainly, english, mary, repabornmary, gundry1904auckland, zealanddied1971aucklandresting, placeopotikinationalitynew, zealandknown. Mary Wirepa 1904 1971 also known as Mary Wi Repa was a visual artist of Maori descent born in Auckland New Zealand 1 She spoke partial Maori but mainly English Mary Wi RepaBornMary Gundry1904Auckland New ZealandDied1971AucklandResting placeOpotikiNationalityNew ZealandKnown forPaintingNotable workOtoko GisborneStyleRealism Romanticism ModernismMovementLandscape ArtistSpouseRomio Wi Repa Contents 1 Career 2 Personal life 3 References 4 Further readingCareer EditGrowing up Mary Wi Repa had a love of music and only began painting seriously around 1958 when she was in her 50s She developed a love of landscape painting particularly romanticism combined with an interpretive realism 2 Wi Repa had planned to attend the Elam School of Fine Arts at the University of Auckland and applied for a tuition grant from Maori Affairs however she decided against attending 3 Although of Maori ancestry Wi Repa preferred not to directly reference her culture but rather to draw her inspiration from the environment around her 4 Her works often include cloud imagery or landscapes including the piece Otoko Gisborne date unknown 4 She believed her talent came through from her grand uncle Arthur Gundry who had been accepted into the Royal Academy of London in the 19th century who had been mentored by Joseph Jenner Merrett Wi Repa exhibited at the Willeston Galleries Wellington in 1964 5 6 and her pieces are included in the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa 3 Personal life EditWi Repa married at the age of nineteen to Romio Wi Repa and had nine children while living in Whanarua Bay the subject of many of her paintings Four of her children were artists namely first born Edward WiRepa Arthur Wi Repa Kathleen Neenee Rosemary Connell Alice Bernadette Higgins as well as her grandson Ivan Wi Repa who was known as a classical pianist in the Maori music industry community 3 References Edit Mary Wirepa Auckland Art Gallery Retrieved 17 September 2017 Mary Wirepa ngataonga org nz Retrieved 17 September 2017 a b c Mary Wirepa collections tepapa govt nz Retrieved 17 September 2017 a b Otoko Gisborne Auckland Art Gallery Retrieved 17 September 2017 Mary Wi Repa and Selwyn Muru posing in the Public Library Wellington National Library of New Zealand Retrieved 17 September 2017 Paintings by Mary Wi Repa Willeston Galleries Wellington National Library of New Zealand Retrieved 17 September 2017 Further reading EditArtist files for Mary Wi Repa are held at E H McCormick Research Library Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tamaki Te Aka Matua Research Library Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Mary Wirepa amp oldid 1044963459, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
