Last chance to buy artworks

The last of the late Joan Grehan's estate of paintings and ceramics are being offered for sale in an exhibition that opens on Friday in the WHMilbank Gallery. PHOTO/ STUART MUNRO

The late Joan Grehan's estate is offering the last of her works for sale in an exhibition opening today in the WHMilbank Gallery.

Mrs Grehan was very active painting in the 30 years she lived overseas in Uganda, Lebanon, Italy, France and England. The last of those works and more recent New Zealand works will be in the exhibition.

She died suddenly in Wanganui in 2007, aged 85.

The Stranger is from Mrs Grehan's "Human Condition" series 2000-06.

This work is from a private collection, but there are 20 from the series that will be for sale.

The ceramic bust is of French painter and sculptor Jean Dubuffet's grandmother from Mrs Grehan's French period, 1970-83.

It is also from a private collection, but there are several more from that period for sale.

Works from"Dance" in her "Movement", and "Landscape" series will be offered, as will Mrs Grehan's "Trees" series from her 1975-83 period, and works from the New Zealand Trees series when she returned home to live.

Exhibition curator Bill Milbank said the works were the remainder of Mrs Grehan's work from her studio, apart from a small number currently showing at the Sarjeant Gallery. Most of the works are for sale and will fund a publication Mr Milbank is compiling of Mrs Grehan and her works. The book about her life is in draft form and close to the print stage.

The draft will be available for viewing at a morning tea at the Sarjeant Gallery on Wednesday next week, where her only son, Oxford University Professor Martin Oldfield, will speak.

Wanganui born, Mrs Grehan, nee Brodie, attended Wanganui Girls' College then completed a fine arts degree at the Canterbury College of Arts in Christchurch (Ilam School of Fine Arts) and then the Camberwell School of Art in London.

In 1983 Mrs Grehan returned to New Zealand and lived in the Bay of Islands with her husband.

Following his death, she returned "home" to Wanganui in 1996.

Mr Milbank said Mrs Grehan's "great enthusiasm and diverse artistic skills greatly enriched the Wanganui cultural fabric up until her sudden death".

"She was a very interesting New Zealand artist."

Of her remarkable diverse creative output, Mr Milbank said Mrs Grehan was well established and her work sold well in France.

The two exhibitions (at the Milbank and Sarjeant) are a good, strong statement of her achievements, he said.