How would you describe your artwork?
A hybrid series of images obscured by boxes of colour or colour rays that shoot out across the surface to disrupt the image below.
When did you first fall in love with art?
When I first came across a reproduction of Picasso’s Les Demoiselles d’Avignon, I was completely blown away by its challenging picture planes and total inventiveness of what a painting can do and be, and this is what inspired me to pursue painting. From then onwards, it has led me to discover the works of other artists, which has helped fuel my artistic journey.
Is there anything special about your studio?
I am based in Brooklyn, Wellington, and my studio is nothing special – just a garage where I work on the paintings on the floor rather than easel or wall. I feel working on the floor gets you more involved: you are in it rather than at arm’s length.
Did you study fine arts, or are you self-taught?
I studied fine arts at the Quay School of art and design, Whanganui, and have been a practising artist for over 20 years now.
What does a typical day in the studio involve?
A typical day involves reading books, doing a lot of image research and looking at what was done previously to see ways of improving it. It’s then back to painting, with a hope of not destroying or overworking what I’d done the day before.
What is your subject matter, and where do you find inspiration?
My subject matter changes regularly, but one constant is the image of the house I often feature throughout my work. Inspiration comes from architecture, books, old master woodcuts and internet image searches.
What materials do you use?
I use mostly acrylic paint on canvas, as I like the immediacy of the medium. I’ve recently been experimenting with oil sticks.
What are you currently working on?
I have recently been exploring still-life flower works by reducing everything to its bare minimum. The still life of these flowers comes more into focus, and from these works I have gone back to looking at architecture and exploring the image of the house while continuously exploring the use of geometric abstraction throughout my work.
If you could add one artwork to your collection, what would it be?
Picasso’s Les demoiselles D’avignon, the painting that inspired me to paint.
Aaron Waghorn, Fake Tales, 2022. Acrylic on canvas, 100 x 130cm. Courtesy: the artist and Bowen Galleries.
Aaron Waghorn, Forever Young 2.0, 2019. Acrylic on canvas, 128 x 180cm. Courtesy: the artist and Bowen Galleries.
Aaron Waghorn, Rain On Snow, 2020. Acrylic on canvas, 145 x 115cm. Courtesy: the artist and Bowen Galleries.