When Tom Mutch was a young man, he grabbed art with both hands and never let go. It became his life. Antipodean Artist reveals the journey from student to the successful painter, printmaker and sculptor he is today. Australian by birth, Tom has spent his adult life in New Zealand and so has become the ultimate antipodean. Straddling the two countries has shaped his character and continues to influence his art. He observes the New Zealand landscape with fresh eyes and has maintained an objective distance with which to tackle political, environmental and social issues.
Throughout his career, Tom has explored various media, subject matters and styles. Readers of Antipodean Artist will recognize recurring themes and concerns and understand the motivation behind sometimes complex ? sometimes beautifully simple ? artistic statements. From representational landscapes to allegorical, fantasy-filled canvases, his paintings reveal a sublime hand. Thanks to an apprenticeship with senior artist Michael Smither, Tom\'s competence with paint verges on the magical. Generous and candid, Antipodean Artist provides insight into this remarkably talented, energetic and creative individual.
Art by Tom Mutch features in many collections ? private and public ? throughout the world. He lives in Kuaotunu on New Zealand?s Coromandel Peninsula.