Steve Woodward

“Steve Woodward is one of New Zealand’s most innovative sculptors. His work is endlessly inventive - from the symbolic and spiritual to the minimalist and functional. Versatility is the key, it characterized his output in terms of concept, material and form.” Robin Woodward

Steve Woodward was born in Montreal, Quebec, Canada where he trained as a carver in the Carrara tradition. After furthering his training in ceramics, stone, and bronze in Italy and France, Steve moved to New Zealand in 1984. Steve's technical expertise in a range of materials suited New Zealand's eclecticism and soon after his arrival his sculpture began to reflect New Zealand through materials and imagery. Since 1992, Steve has worked on numerous public sculpture commissions which grace train stations in Taipei, parks in Guilin, private collections in Phuket, and the gallery at the Tjibaou Cultural Centre in Noumea. His public sculptures in New Zealand are environmentally conscious works, sensitive to site, place and space. For example, Mangere Mountain Landmarkers are carved from local volcanic basalt or cast in iron and placed beside features of the mountain or human habitation that they make reference to - garden mounds, a whare and boundaries, yet to minimize their visual impact on the natural site, the markers are designed to sit lightly on the land, to blend. Steve's gallery and garden works also address issues of environment as well as the human condition and politics. Works such as Pet Making play on perfectly pruned topiaries and Quilt spins and rocks on the curved base creating a slight hum underneath miniature stone hills are covered with a quilt of patchwork invention.

Steve's sculptures are in public and private collections across New Zealand and internationally. Beyond his public sculpture commissions, Steve's work is exhibited in solo and group shows.

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