Anna Stichbury

“In Wetland Dreamscape, I consider the idea of reflection, both in a literal and a more contemplative sense. I have been painting seascapes and watery environments for many years, and it felt natural to continue that exploration for this exhibition.

The work combines water and floral elements to create an imagined wetland; not a specific place, but a slightly magical realm to discover. The reflections invite the viewer to look into the surface of the water and pause there. Conceived as a continuous composition, the diptych can be hung in either direction, suggesting a ‘forever cycle’ where the image has no clear beginning or end.” – Anna Stichbury

Artist Bio

Anna Stichbury is a contemporary New Zealand artist whose practice spans painting and installation, distinguished by her bold use of colour, layered textures, and dynamic mark-making. Working predominantly in large scale, Stichbury’s semi-abstract compositions envelop the viewer, creating immersive visual experiences that highlight the interplay between materiality and emotion. Her work explores the expressive potential of colour and surface, offering a tactile, immediate, and contemplative richness.

Stichbury approaches her practice as a colourist, often drawing inspiration from a particular hue that resonates with a deeper emotional or conceptual significance. Expanding on an immediate connection to a colour, an entire series of works frequently emerges from this intuitive affinity, exploring its potential across various subjects and abstract interpretations. Working primarily in acrylics on canvas and board, Stichbury builds richly textured surfaces through layers of gestural mark-making and thick, expressive paint applications. A distinctive palette of luminous blues, verdant greens, and myriad vibrant hues appears throughout her practice, echoing the natural world while evoking a sense of memory and inner landscape.

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