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Experience creativity like never before. For the month of June, The Colombo retail centre will be completely taken over by original paintings by celebrated artist Philip Trusttum.PHILIP TRUSTTUM
Trusttum is an icon of New Zealand painting, and one of our most prolific artists.
Having painted almost non-stop since his days in art school at the University of Canterbury in the 1960s, Trusttum has contributed thousands of works that have been a common sight in New Zealand’s most prestigious art galleries.
He grew up in Raetihi, Christchurch, Oxford, Culverden, Rangiora and Ashley. His art education began with one Miss Cederman in Oxford at the age of 10.
It was at Rangiora, from the age of 16 to 19, that Philip painted racing cars. Coopers, Maseratis and Ferraris.
And it was the car paintings that got him accepted into university. And it was at university that Trusttum found his unique style.
Inspired by the likes of Max Beckmann, Paul Klee, Pablo Picasso, Henri Matisse, Jackson Pollock, Karel Appel and Asger Jorn; he also took an interest in Japanese, Chinese, and Indian art.
Once he starts painting, Trusttum never dallies. He likes to get paint on canvas fast, and revisit the same theme over the coming days and years until the chapter is complete.
He now lives in central Christchurch, where he paints daily in his studio.
ART TAKEOVER
This is the largest-ever public display of Philip Trusttum’s works.
The Colombo owner Lilly Cooper is Trusttum’s neighbour and loves the experience of walking past his studio and peering in to see what he’s working on.
She respects him as a senior Christchurch artist, and invited him to a total takeover of the retail precinct – an extraordinary experience for everyone who visits The Colombo this June.
The comprehensive installation of paintings across the interior and exterior of the retail precinct includes original artworks through five galleries inside The Colombo, signage, and communal spaces.
In total over 120 of Trusttum’s paintings are on exhibition, highlighting his themes of everyday life.
The chapters of works exhibited cover the years 2001 to 2024, and include abstract depictions of people, toys, constructed items, everyday and household objects.
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Event Venue & Nearby Stays
THE COLOMBO, 363 Colombo Street,,Christchurch, New Zealand