Neil Dawson New Zealand, b. 1948

Neil Dawson is one of New Zealand’s most celebrated sculptors, recognised nationally and internationally for his innovative public artworks.

Born in Christchurch in 1948, Dawson studied at the University of Canterbury School of Fine Arts, graduating with Honours in 1970, and later at the Victorian College of the Arts in Melbourne. He returned to Christchurch to teach drawing and design at Christchurch Polytechnic before committing to sculpture full time in the early 1980s.

Working primarily with steel and aluminium, Dawson has developed a distinctive visual language that plays with illusion, scale, and perception. His sculptures often appear to float, transforming skylines and public spaces with their lightness and sense of wonder.

Dawson’s signature works can be seen throughout New Zealand and abroad. In Christchurch, his monumental Chalice (2001) stands in Cathedral Square as an enduring symbol of the city, while Fanfare (2004/2015) greets visitors on the northern motorway. In Wellington, his iconic Ferns (1998) hovers above Civic Square. Internationally, his works include Globe (1989) exhibited at the Centre Pompidou in Paris, and major commissions in Australia, the United Kingdom, and China.

Over the course of his career Dawson has exhibited widely and undertaken significant public commissions, cementing his reputation as a leading figure in contemporary sculpture. His works are held in public collections including the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa, Christchurch Art Gallery Te Puna o Waiwhetū, and Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki.

In recognition of his contribution to the arts, Dawson was awarded the Arts Foundation Laureate Award in 2003 and was appointed a Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit in 2004.