Biography
Born in Dunedin in 1952, Eion Stevens studied painting and printmaking at Otago School of Art and graduated with Honours in 1973. He furthered his studies at Exeter College of Art, England in 1974/75 and later in Europe.
Stevens returned to New Zealand in the late 1970’s living initially in Auckland but returned to Dunedin in 1981. He exhibited regularly and his individuality and ironic imagery attracted a steady following among collectors.
Stevens’ work is recognisable for its bold colours and shapes and frequently recurring motifs. He extended this thematic emphasis in the early 2000’s by shaping the paintings themselves – effectively allowing the wall upon which the painting was hung, to frame it and cast its own shadows.
A period living in Lyttelton resulted in the sea featuring more prominently in his work, but the 2011 Christchurch earthquakes destroyed Eion’s studio and storage area and with it many of his early and major works.
His works are held in many important public and private collections in New Zealand and internationally and have been written about in major NZ art publications including ‘NZ Art – A Modern Perspective by Elva Bett,’ ‘100 New Zealand Paintings’ by Warwick Brown, and in ‘Art New Zealand’.
Eion Stevens died at his home in Christchurch in 2021.
Works
