Billy McQueen

McQueen’s work, while decidedly pictorial in appearance, is concerned with the evocative potential of paint, embracing both the recent history of abstraction alongside broader traditions of narrative painting. His distinctive approach to the language and medium of painting – coupled with the use of photography as a source – allows the artist to create resonant and ambiguous images which shift between the real and imaginary, pushing at the medium’s potential for depth and meaning.

After finishing his Bachelor of Fine Arts from Elam School of Fine Arts in 1997, Billy worked as a print technician at Manukau Institute of Technology Visual Arts School and as a designer for the Auckland Museum. In 2000 he transitioned into a successful career in advertising winning a number of awards, both nationally and internationally for his work as a creative director. Twelve years and two children later, McQueen returned to Elam to complete a Master of Fine Arts, graduating in 2015 with 1st Class honours.