BIO
Oliver Cain is an English born/New Zealand Artist. His work covers a broad range of topics as it changes and develops as well as a wide range of materials. His artworks, subverted linguistic paintings, ceramic sculptures and installations, bear a certain physicality and push the boundaries between conceptualism and post-pop art. The creative process behind Cain’s artworks is the most important thing and therefore his artworks can be made of anything and take any form. Appropriated everyday objects transform stereotypes and famous art historical references become twisted. As proud member of the queer community, Cain uses his work to examine, question and criticize the relationships between gender, (homo)sexuality and societies’ misconceptions about those themes. But, despite what it might look like to the contemporary spectator, a purely erotic and queer reading of the work would be misguided. There is an universal profundity at play revealing itself slowly for those willing to look and feel.
GALLERIES/EXHIBITIONS SHOWN IN:
2022
Nelson Sculpture Awards - Wellington
NZPPA
8th Hibiscus and Bays Art Awards
Kumeu Art Awards Group Exhibition
‘They Were Roommates’ – Solo Show – Auckland NZ
Molly Morpeth Canaday Awards 2022 - NZ
National Youth Art Awards – Hamilton NZ
Rail Link sponsored art installation – Auckland NZ
NorthArt - Solo Show ‘Let’s try Again’ – Auckland NZ
Group show – Oddly Projects Opening Show – Auckland NZ
The Aspiring Art Show – Wanaka NZ
Kaipara Coast Sculpture Gardens Exhibition NZ
2021
Solo Show – Brussels, Belgium
Sculpture Onshore Virtual
World of WearableArts 2021
The Other Art Fair - Virtual Edition – Saatchi Art
NZ Contemporary Art Awards - Waikato Museum
Emerging Practitioner in Clay Award - Quartz, Museum of Studio Ceramics, Whanganui
Art in the Park (Eden Park) - Auckland
The Holy Art - Virtual Group Show – UK
Studio 1 - Solo Show ‘Body Filled Body Candy” - Auckland
Grey – Group Show ‘Cloud 9’ - Auckland
Copelouzos Family Art Museum – ‘COV-ART Project’- Athens,GR
Galerie Biesenbach – Art Matters 3 online Group Show (Germany)
MADE - Mt Albert Art + design Exhibition
International Ceramic Biennale of Talavera (Spain)
Gallery Thirty Three - Ceramic show with Mandy Gargiulo
Auckland Art Fair
F enander Galleries - Solo Show ft.Billy Apple ‘It’s a boy’-
Astor Bristed Gallery (Arrowtown)– Solo Show – ‘In Plain Sight’
Wallace Gallery Morrinsville (WAA)
Pātaka Art+Museum (WAA)
Paragon Matter - Owhango Summer Sculpture Show
Kaipara Coast Sculpture Gardens Exhibition
Sarjeant Gallery – ‘Corner Dairy’
2020
Craigs Aspiring Art Show
The Dowse Art Museum - ECC NZ Student Design/Craft Awards
Limn Gallery – Group show
Taranaki National Art Awards
Kings Collage Art Exhibition
New Zealand Painting & Printmaking Awards
Semicolon – Föenander Galleries
Föenander Galleries – Solo Show ‘Relatively Fruity’
Par Homestead - Finalist for The Wallace Art Awards
Parkin Prize – NZ Academy of Fine Arts - Wellington
Mairangi Arts Centre
Corban Estate Arts Centre, Auckland - Feb - Mar
Molly Morpeth Canaday Awards - TeKoputu Exhibition centre, Whakatane - 16th Feb – 12th Apr
Academy Galleries (WAA) - Queens Wharf, Wellington - 15th Feb – 22nd Mar
Föenander Galleries - small work salon (group show)
Millers O'Brien - Graduation Show
2019
Föenander Galleries - Group show - 'Ida Soleil'
Wallace Gallery Morrinsville (WAA)
The Dowse Art Musem - ECC NZ Student Design/ Craft Awards
Par Homestead - Finalist for The Wallace Art Awards
Webbs - Eden Arts 2019
Lake House Arts - Ceramic Showcase
2018
The Dowse Art Musem - ECC NZ Student Design/ Craft Awards
Sculpture Onshore 2018 - Auckland, NZ
Lake House Arts - Riley Consultants member exhibition
MADE - Mt Albert Art + design Exhibition
Great Art Sale - Lake house Arts
Par Homestead - Finalist for The Wallace Art Awards
The James Wallace Arts Trust - Nine Works in Sir James Wallace's Art Collection.
No.1 Parnell - Rawene, NZ
VEFA - Exhibition of Fine Art
Royal Easter Show - ASB Show ground (Awarded a Merit)
Deport Artspace - Devonport, New Zealand
Awards/Achievements:
Craig’s Investment Partners Art 3D Award - 2022 Molly Morpeth Canaday Awards
First Prize – National Youth Art Awards 2021
Highly Commended Kumeu Arts Award 2021
Product Collaboration with Refold
Fashion Collaboration with Clique Fitness for Sweat with Pride (2021)
Highly Commended 2020 - ECC NZ Student Design/Craft Awards
Craig’s Investment Partners Art 3D Award - 2020 Molly Morpeth Canaday Awards
Touring finalist for The Wallace Art Awards 2020
Overall Supreme award - ECC 2019
Tuatara Ceramic Award - ECC 2019
Overall winner of the Eden Arts Award 2019
Touring finalist for The Wallace Art Awards 2019
Highly Commended 2018 - ECC NZ Student Design/Craft Awards
Finalist for The Wallace Art Awards 2018
Merit Award 2018 - Riley Consultant members competition
Merit Award 2018 - Royal Easter Show