Wayne Youle
‘I trained as a designer, so you can see that in my work; it comes in and out of my work, that cleanliness and clarity of design.’
Wellington-born multi-media artist Wayne Youle (Ngā Puhi, Ngati Whakaeke, Ngāti Pākehā) has produced a remarkably diverse body of work since graduating from the Wellington Polytechnic School of Design in 1999. In 2010, Wayne was the Rita Angus Artist in Residence. Two years later, he was selected as the SCAPE Artspace Artist in Residence (Sydney), and in 2019, he was the McCahon House Artist in Residence. Wayne’s work is held in public collections across Aotearoa, including Wellington, Christchurch, Auckland, and Wanaka.
Having specialised in typography during his design studies, Wayne’s art embodies a less-is-more mentality, often comprised of clean lines, strong silhouettes, and flat, unmodulated blocks of colour. Though formally stripped-back, Wayne’s works are conceptually saturated. Bringing together different shapes and symbols, his compositions work to contextualise narratives, allowing simple forms to convey complex meaning, whether this be in the form of story, metaphor or historical retelling.
Wayne draws inspiration from a vast well of sources, including figures from his own family life and personal memories, as well as different times, aesthetics, and artists who have had a lasting influence on his practice, such as Colin McCahon, Jean-Michel Basquiat, Sidney Nolan, Piet Mondrian, and Philip Guston, to name a few.
Wayne’s diverse practice is also strongly influenced by his bicultural heritage. A keen observer of the ever-shifting dynamics of Māori and Pākehā culture, his practice traverses issues of identity, race, and the commodification of cultural symbols. His work speaks to a fascination with the visual language of popular culture, and desire to question how history and identity are constructed. In Wayne’s hands, simple forms and symbols take on a historical, metaphysical and psychological weight, navigating these exceedingly complex – and in some circles, contentious – cross-currents with a wry sense of humour and disarming honesty.
Quotation from Wayne Youle's 2019 Artist Talk for his exhibition 'HERE I give Thanks'
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Spring1883 Art Fair | Melbourne
The Hotel Windsor 9 - 12 Aug 2023For Spring 1883, Melbourne, {Suite} presents work by artists Ans Westra, Wayne Youle and Richard Lewer. Richard Lewer presents five new paintings on brass and copper alongside three mirror self-portraits...Read more -
Wayne Youle | it's not you, it's me...
{Suite} Ponsonby 5 - 29 Jul 2023Wayne Youle is a shrewd social commentator whose subversive, often humorous art defies categorisation. He works across many disciplines and engages with a variety of themes, from popular culture to...Read more -
Wayne Youle | A decade of portraits
{Suite} Wellington 16 May - 10 Jun 2023A decade of portraits is a mini-survey of Wayne Youle portraits, combining originals from the series with new works that draw on formal and stylistic themes present in his 2017...Read more -
Wayne Youle | New Works (and not so new works)
{Suite} Ponsonby 2 Dec 2022 - 28 Jan 2023'There is a sweet time in the studio when the sun is bright and the shadows are solid, before everything has to be moved and the sun is doing too...Read more -
Wayne Youle | New Works (and not so new works)
{Suite} Wellington 30 Nov - 22 Dec 2022Wayne Youle is an artist who works adeptly across any medium he turns his hand to; but it is sculpture that has always kept him most engaged, cultivating his creativity...Read more -
{Suite} Aotearoa Art Fair 2022 | Stand C9
The Cloud, Auckland 16 - 20 Nov 2022{Suite} is pleased to present a selection of work by artists Wayne Youle, Richard Lewer, Tia Ansell, Georgia Spain, Daniel Unverricht, Angela Singer and Bruce Connew at the 2022 Aotearoa Art Fair. Stand C9: 16 Nov - 20 Nov, The Cloud, Auckland.Read more -
Wayne Youle | DNA(EIOU)
{Suite} Wellington 10 Aug - 3 Sep 2022A creative flat-patch at the beginning of 2022 led to a period of self-reflection for Wayne Youle. After a busy two years in 2020-2021 which produced a considerable amount of...Read more -
Wayne Youle | Short Attention Span
{Suite} Wellington 16 Mar - 16 Apr 2022Wayne Youle's solo exhibition 'Short Attention Span' is now on show in Te-Whanganui-a-Tara Wellington. This exhibition comprises new neon light sculptures alongside pared back abstract paintings.Read more -
Wayne Youle | TENT 2021
Ōtautahi Christchurch 5 - 6 Nov 2021Wayne Youle will be exhibiting a selection of new paintings in Ōtautahi Christchurch and online as part of TENT 2021. The exhibition will take place at the 65 Cambridge Terrace...Read more -
Wayne Youle | From Then Till Now
{Suite} Wellington 11 Aug - 4 Sep 2021If Wayne Youle hadn’t been an artist, he would have been an archaeologist. He has a love ofthe past, of digging things up in the ground and discovering. His cut...Read more -
Wayne Youle | National Fuckin’ Treasure
SPRING1883 24 Jul - 14 Aug 2021Wayne Youle has worked on both sides of the Tasman, exploring and paying homage to our countries’ most significant artists. Youle’s interest in Sidney Nolan’s series of paintings on Ned...Read more -
Wayne Youle | You should of been here yesterday
{Suite} Ponsonby 22 Jul - 14 Aug 2021Wayne Youle’s new series of text-based paintings serve as an artistic diary. Reflections and meditations on daily life sit alongside art historical and literary references, as well as snippets of...Read more -
Wayne Youle
{Suite} Wellington 29 Oct - 14 Nov 2020 -
Wayne Youle | Elevation
Te Uru Waitakere Contemporary Gallery 26 Sep - 29 Nov 2020 -
Wayne Youle | Elevation
{Suite} Ponsonby 9 Sep - 3 Oct 2020 -
Wayne Youle | Here I give Thanks
{Suite} Wellington 19 Sep - 12 Oct 2019 -
Wayne Youle | Colonel Mustard in the study with the candle stick
{Suite} Wellington 12 Jul - 4 Aug 2018 -
Wayne Youle | UN (United Nations)
{Suite} Wellington 30 Aug - 16 Sep 2017 -
Wayne Youle | The Hoe and The Hōiho
Pataka Art + Museum 4 Jun - 14 Aug 2017 -
Wayne Youle | Strangely Familiar
New Zealand Portrait Gallery 6 Apr - 17 Jun 2017 -
Wayne Youle | Bad Idea
{Suite} Wellington 1 Sep - 1 Oct 2016 -
Wayne Youle | The best stories ever told (revisited)
{Suite} Wellington 25 Feb - 12 Mar 2016 -
Wayne Youle | 9:54 | 3:49
Sydney Contemporary 2015 10 - 13 Sep 2015 -
Wayne Youle | New Works
{Suite} Wellington 20 May - 13 Jun 2015 -
Wayne Youle | Maiden Voyage
{Suite} Wellington 18 - 29 Nov 2014 -
Wayne Youle | Vacancies
{Suite} Wellington 1 - 31 May 2014 -
Wayne Youle | You be Fact, I'll be Fiction
{Suite} Wellington 3 - 27 Apr 2013 -
Wayne Youle | Fingers Crossed
City Gallery Wellington 15 Dec 2012 - 10 Feb 2013 -
Wayne Youle | Make, Pretend
{Suite} Wellington 1 - 26 May 2012 -
Wayne Youle | One Step Forward, One Step Back
{Suite} Wellington 20 - 25 Jun 2011 -
Wayne Youle | "!?"...:)
{Suite} Wellington 1 - 25 Jun 2011 -
Wayne Youle | It's The Simple Things
{Suite} Wellington 27 Jul - 28 Aug 2010 -
Wayne Youle | A Darker Kind of Light Heartedness
{Suite} Wellington 8 - 30 May 2009
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Wayne Youle
Portraits from the Collection of Avenal McKinnon April 24, 2023The New Zealand Portrait Gallery has installed a new exhibition in Ōtautahi at the Kate Sheppard House - 83 Clyde Rd, Ilam. Portraits from the...Read more -
Wayne Youle | National Fuckin’ Treasure
Spring1883 Melbourne Art Fair July 10, 2021{Suite} will be presenting Wayne Youle’s ‘National Fuckin’ Treasure’ (NFT) at this year’s Spring1883 Melbourne Art Fair NFT features new works inspired by Sidney Nolan’s...Read more -
Wayne Youle
14 Blown Kisses / 14 Ngā Tohu Aroha ka Tukuna June 18, 2021Congrats to Wayne Youle for his book 14 Blown Kisses / 14 Ngā Tohu Aroha ka Tukuna receiving ‘Highly Commended’ at this year’s Museums Australasia...Read more -
Wayne Youle | Elevation
Te Uru Waitakere Contemporary Gallery October 23, 2020Te Uru presents an exhibition of new work by Wayne Youle, made during his studio residency at McCahon House in 2019. Spilling out from the...Read more -
Wayne Youle
Art Collector July 4, 2018An article about Wayne Youle's latest exhibition of masks at {Suite} in the Jul-Sept of Art CollectorRead more -
Wayne Youle | Strangely Familiar
Aratoi Museum of History and Art April 21, 2018Strangely Familiar: Portraits by Wayne Youle showcases bold, compelling portraits of New Zealand art-world personalities including musicians, poets, writers and artists such as Colin McCahon,...Read more -
Wayne Youle
Look Mum No Hands April 14, 2017Wayne Youle: Look Mum No Hands. On show at the Christchurch Art Gallery. 14 April - 3 September 2017. Curated by Felicity Milburn: He's been...Read more -
Strangely Familiar | Wayne Youle
NZ Portrait Gallery April 6, 2017Strangely Familiar | Portraits by Wayne Youle On show at NZ Portrait Gallery, Wellington 6 April - 18 June, 2017 Wayne Youle’s bold, compelling portraits...Read more -
Wayne Youle & Ans Westra
The Prince of Right and Wrong February 27, 2017Wayne Youle & Ans Westra collaboration work The Prince of Right and Wrong, 1998-2013, will be on show as part of 'Cataloguing Blue', an exhibition...Read more -
Wayne Youle
Art Collector Magazine Issue 75 February 25, 2016Wayne Youle 's upcoming exhibition The best stories ever told (revisited) is featured in Art Collector Magazine's For The Diary. Issue 75 Jan-Mar 2016.Read more -
Wayne Youle
Sydney Contemporary 2015 September 1, 2015Sydney Contemporary 2015 With the support of Creative New Zealand {Suite} will present a solo exhibition by Wayne Youle at Sydney Contemporary 2015 (1-13 September...Read more -
Wayne Youle
Cover of Art News July 14, 2015Wayne Youle | Polly want a knuckle sandwich, 2015, featured on the cover of Art News New Zealand, Winter 2015. Wayne is also featured inside...Read more -
Cut + Paste
The Dowse, Fishhead Magazine May 1, 2015Wayne Youle, Ans Westra & Rob Cherry featured in Mary-Jane Duffy's piece on Cut + Paste at The Dowse, Fishhead Magazine, May 2015Read more -
Wayne Youle
Alone Time Acquisition October 23, 2014Wayne Youle ALONE TIME, 2014 Recent acquisition by Christchurch Art Gallery Te Puna o Waiwhetu An obsessively ordered, subversively witty re-imagining of Wayne Youle’s studio,...Read more