Douglas Stichbury
‘Illustrating a science fiction novel often presents unique challenges - much of what is described simply does not exist. Since I paint in a figurative, realistic way, this can be quite difficult without a reference.’
Born in Palmerston North, New Zealand, Douglas Stichbury lives and works between Brooklyn, New York, and Hong Kong. His works are held in the collections of both the Wellington City Council and James Wallace Arts Trust; and he has been Artist in Residence at institutions across China, Germany, Austria, and New Zealand.
Stichbury's work is heavily influenced by speculative science fiction, which he says inspires most of his pieces. But while his primary medium is painting, the nature of his subject forces him to innovate. To meet the challenge of depicting from imagination, Stichbury utilises industrial software more commonly found in cinema and engineering, to digitally plan his work. Using a dry-brush technique, he then grounds the esoteric imagery with black oil paint on linen so that it assumes tangible materiality.
The result, are quasi-illusory worlds which draw the viewer into their artificial depth, though at the same time foreground the canvas' surface - creating tension between one's immersion in, and awareness of the fiction.
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Douglas Stichbury & Tia Ansell | Auckland Art Fair 2021
Tāmaki Makaurau 24 - 28 Feb 2021In these paintings made for the Auckland Art Fair, New York based artist Douglas Stichbury continues to explore his interest in speculative 20th century science fiction. Using industrial software Stichbury’s...Read more -
Douglas Stichbury & Ans Westra | Auckland Art Fair
Tāmaki Makaurau 30 Apr - 17 May 2020 -
Douglas Stichbury | Polyphony
{Suite} Wellington 26 Apr - 18 May 2019 -
Douglas Stichbury | The Light of Other Days
{Suite} Wellington 20 Feb - 10 Mar 2018 -
Douglas Stichbury
{Suite} Wellington 10 May - 3 Jun 2017 -
Douglas Stichbury | Punctum Field
{Suite} Wellington 19 Apr - 14 May 2016 -
Douglas Stichbury | Deleted Scenes
{Suite} Wellington 8 - 25 Apr 2015 -
Douglas Stichbury | The Practice of Leisure
{Suite} Wellington 3 - 26 Apr 2014 -
Douglas Stichbury | Smoke Damage
{Suite} Wellington 6 - 23 Jun 2012 -
Douglas Stichbury | Magnificent Civilisation
{Suite} Wellington 19 Apr - 7 May 2011 -
Douglas Stichbury | Dear Trustable Partner
{Suite} Wellington 2 - 24 Jul 2010