Jeff Thomson here celebrates a material that is very much a part of New Zealand’s architectural and popular culture, from fences, to the roofs of houses and the wrought iron verandah trimmings of 19th century villas. He has carved and burnt out a filigree pattern in the iron, presenting us with the paradox of a waterproof and durable roofing and building material turned into a delicate and precious work of art.

The works Thomson creates out of corrugated iron often show a sense of humour. His subjects are inventive and range from animals and cars through to more abstract forms such as Lace 1.

Born in Auckland, Thomson attended the University of Auckland, graduating in 1981. He began working as an artist full-time in 1986 and has since been awarded numerous Arts Council grants and artist residencies in both Australia and New Zealand. Thomson is represented in major public institutions throughout New Zealand, Australia, Germany and Malaysia. He currently lives and works in Auckland.