Neal Palmer

Neal Palmer is widely recognised as one of Aotearoa's leading botanical artists. A full-time artist since 1999, Palmer has had over 40 solo shows alongside participating in group shows and events at Artspace, Rotorua Museum, Hastings City Art Gallery, Artists in Eden and the Beijing and Los Angeles Biennial Art Invitationals. Palmer has been a finalist in the Molly Morpeth, Margaret Stoddart, Estuary Art & Ecology and the Wallace Art Awards and was an inaugural artist for the Karekare House residency and the most recent Artist in Residence at the Auckland Botanic Gardens (2022 – 2023).

Palmer’s painting practice revolves around exploring his natural environment and its visual language.“I have discovered subjects that can evoke strong emotional responses. I have been consistently interested in blending visual languages, and in exploring how the languages of colour, texture, pattern, and abstract forms can inform and cross-reference each other. One focus has been to develop work that uses the illusion of a photographic ‘depth of field’ to allow images to slip in and out of pictorialism and abstraction through shifting the viewer’s conscious reactions to colour, composition, and form.”

Born in London, Palmer gained a Bachelor of Fine Art (hons) from Nottingham Trent University, where the work of his contemporaries Tim Noble and Sue Webster remain influential to this day. He moved to Aotearoa in the late 90’s, coming to terms with the natural environment of his new home, the artist engaged in painting again, to great success, finding a strong affinity and emotional nostalgic response from the native fauna. Allowing his work to slip in and out of pictorialism and abstract flatness; creating a tension between the paintings surface and the illusion of space. Aspiring for his work to be relational “on as many levels as possible” and passion for quality “mark-making that lifts the painting beyond the material world” is what drives this artist.

Recent Awards & Residencies

Auckland Botanic Gardens (2022 – 2023)

Finalist, The Estuary Art & Ecology Prize 2020
Finalist, Molly Morpeth Canaday 3D Award 2020
Finalist, The Estuary Art & Ecology Prize 2019
Artist in Residence, Eden Arts Trust Karekare Residency 2018
Finalist, Wallace Art Awards 2013, work purchased for collection
Artist in Residence, Art in the Park, Minaret Lodge, Wanaka 2013
Finalist and ‘Merit Award Winner’ Molly Morpeth Awards 2010,
Finalist, Margaret Stoddart Prize 2010, Merit
Finalist, Wallace Art Awards 2009

Selected Public Collections

Air New Zealand, Auckland/Los Angeles

Art House Trust, Auckland
Auckland Botanic Gardens, Auckland
Auckland City Council, Auckland
Kings School Foundation, Auckland
ALease, Hong Kong
Citadel Capital, Auckland/Seoul
Duolun Museum of Modern Art, China
Vero Centre, Auckland

Wallace Arts Trust, Auckland
Private & Corporate Collections in NZ, UK, Australia, USA, Spain, France, Malaysia and Hong Kong

SELECTED SOLO EXHIBITIONS

November, 2024 - Connections, Föenander Galleries, Auckland

October - 2022 Reaction and Reflection Föenander Galleries, Auckland
November 2021 – On Track, Föenander Galleries, Auckland

October 2020 – Thorny Issues, Föenander Galleries, Auckland

October 2019 - Central Tread, Föenander Galleries, Auckland

June 2019 - Signs & Impressions, Milford Galleries, Queenstown

October 2018 - Twenty Two, Föenander Galleries, Auckland

February 2018 - Floral Evolution, Muse, Havelock North

October 2017 - Midas Touch, Föenander Galleries, Auckland
October 2016 - Horsing Around, Föenander Galleries, Auckland

April 2016 - Reflections on Form, Milford Galleries, Queenstown

October 2015 - Complex Rhythms, Föenander Galleries, Auckland

November 2013 -Silver Linings, Föenander Galleries, Auckland