Michael McHugh

Biography

With the use of gestural acrylic mark making, McHugh creates a layered abstraction moving between the paintings’ surface and botanical shapes. Works are sometimes sombre and brooding, and at other times energetic and vibrant, with textural layers echoing moments in time. McHugh believes constant drawing and collaging to be fundamental to his painting process. This foundation enables him to fully explore composition and vigorously push boundaries with colour and technique.

Graduating from Whitecliffe College of Arts & Design in New Zealand, he has attended masterclasses in painting at the National Art School in Sydney, Australia. He currently works in the creative media industry and also exhibits his work in Sydney, Australia. McHugh’s work is held in a number of private collections in New Zealand, Australia and the United Kingdom.

Works
  • Michael McHugh, Harmony, 2025
    Harmony, 2025 Sold
  • Michael McHugh, Now you see it, Now you don't, 2025
    Now you see it, Now you don't, 2025 Sold
  • Michael McHugh, Perennial , 2025
    Perennial , 2025 Sold
  • Michael McHugh, Entwinement., 2025
    Entwinement., 2025 Sold
  • Michael McHugh, RUSH HOUR, 2024
    RUSH HOUR, 2024
  • Michael McHugh, COMMUNITY GARDEN, 2024
    COMMUNITY GARDEN, 2024 Sold
  • Michael McHugh, PROPAGATE, 2024
    PROPAGATE, 2024 Sold
  • Michael McHugh, Playground , 2024
    Playground , 2024 Sold
  • Michael McHugh, Aitutaki , 2023
    Aitutaki , 2023 Sold
  • Michael McHugh, Eden, 2023
    Eden, 2023 Sold
  • Michael McHugh, Swimming in the Clouds, 2022
    Swimming in the Clouds, 2022
  • MICHAEL McHUGH, Resplendent, 2022
    Resplendent, 2022 Sold
  • MICHAEL McHUGH, Bellevue, 2022
    Bellevue, 2022 Sold
  • Michael McHugh, Honeycomb
    Honeycomb
  • Michael McHugh, Concord Symposium. 2025.
    Concord Symposium. 2025.
Exhibitions
News