Amelia grew up on a high-country station in Canterbury, New Zealand, where her passion for animals was born. After spending many years away from home, filling up on life experience and learning worldly lessons abroad, it is back in the hills and surrounded by four legged inspiration that she currently resides with her beekeeper husband and two children.
Amelia gained her art tuition during her high school years in Christchurch. She received a Bachelor of Arts at the University of Otago, achieving majors in both Art History & Theory and Theatre Studies and completed her studies at the University of Amsterdam.
She has held numerous solo and group exhibitions across New Zealand and has works in both local and international collections. In 2017, Amelia won the Craigs Aspiring Art Prize, and in 2022, she received the Supreme Award at the Rural Women’s Business Awards for her contributions to the arts.
Amelia also performs professionally as an actress under the name Amelia Dunbar. Notable art-career highlights include serving as expedition artist for the Tracing Tea documentary in India, a commission from Fonterra to create artwork for its global offices, and the acquisition of her work Distinguishable by Lincoln University in 2015 for their art collection.
Amelia gained her art tuition during her high school years in Christchurch. She received a Bachelor of Arts at the University of Otago, achieving majors in both Art History & Theory and Theatre Studies and completed her studies at the University of Amsterdam.
She has held numerous solo and group exhibitions across New Zealand and has works in both local and international collections. In 2017, Amelia won the Craigs Aspiring Art Prize, and in 2022, she received the Supreme Award at the Rural Women’s Business Awards for her contributions to the arts.
Amelia also performs professionally as an actress under the name Amelia Dunbar. Notable art-career highlights include serving as expedition artist for the Tracing Tea documentary in India, a commission from Fonterra to create artwork for its global offices, and the acquisition of her work Distinguishable by Lincoln University in 2015 for their art collection.
ARTIST STATEMENT
"As a creator I have always been interested in depicting the world around with my own lens overlaid. Having spent most of my life on a high-country station, I’ve been profoundly influenced by the animals that surround me. These moving, lively creatures always prove a challenging and dynamic subject and have given me the vehicle for years of exploration and experimentation in my art practice. I am rarely satisfied with mere realism or conventional colour palette’s and I have found great enjoyment in showing my affection for these animals this way. My aim is to transform familiar subjects into something more elusive, where the viewer must engage with the piece and interpret it in their own way, creating a personal bond with the experience and, ultimately, making the piece their own."
"As a creator I have always been interested in depicting the world around with my own lens overlaid. Having spent most of my life on a high-country station, I’ve been profoundly influenced by the animals that surround me. These moving, lively creatures always prove a challenging and dynamic subject and have given me the vehicle for years of exploration and experimentation in my art practice. I am rarely satisfied with mere realism or conventional colour palette’s and I have found great enjoyment in showing my affection for these animals this way. My aim is to transform familiar subjects into something more elusive, where the viewer must engage with the piece and interpret it in their own way, creating a personal bond with the experience and, ultimately, making the piece their own."
PAST EXHIBITIONS/AWARDS
2025 - The Artist's Room group exhibition - Dunedin
2025 - Te Huanui Art Gallery group exhibition - Darfield
2021 - Hurunui Garden Festival - Flaxmere
2021 - Artspace Tekapo group exhibition - Tekapo
2019 - 'Let Them Eat Hay' - Solo exhibition, The Shelter, Chch
2019 - 'Mustering The Muscle' - The Artist's Room, Dunedin
2017 - 'Bulls Gold' exhibition - The Artist's Room, Dunedin
2017 - Craigs Aspiring Art Awards - Winner
2016 - King's College Art Fair - Invited artist
2016 - Art House Tour, Auckland - Invited artist
2016 - Sensational Selwyn Awards - Arts and Culture - Winner
2016 - Craigs Aspiring Art Awards - selected artist
2015 - 'Distinguishable' purchased by Lincoln University for the permanent art collection
2015 - Group exhibition – Animals- Selwyn Gallery
2015 - Culverden Fete group exhibition selected artist
2015 - Craigs Aspiring Art Awards - selected artist
2014 - Solo exhibition – Imaginary Menagerie – XCHC Christchurch
2012-13 - Travelling exhibition with The Bitches’ Box and Mel Parsons
2011 - Guest artist at The Culverden Christmas Country Fete 20th year
2011 - Solo exhibition – Heads and Tails - Longbeach, Mid Canterbury
2010 - Solo exhibition – Beefed Up - Smyth Galleries, Auckland
2009 - Joint exhibition with Deb Britten - Smyth Galleries, Auckland
2003 - ‘Mother Daughter Exhibition’ - Akaroa
2003 - Rangi Ruru Charity Auction
2002 - Selwyn Exhibition – awarded Malvern Community Arts council ‘Young Achievers Award’
2001 - Group exhibition ‘Anna Guild and Friends’ – Selwyn Gallery, Darfield
2025 - The Artist's Room group exhibition - Dunedin
2025 - Te Huanui Art Gallery group exhibition - Darfield
2021 - Hurunui Garden Festival - Flaxmere
2021 - Artspace Tekapo group exhibition - Tekapo
2019 - 'Let Them Eat Hay' - Solo exhibition, The Shelter, Chch
2019 - 'Mustering The Muscle' - The Artist's Room, Dunedin
2017 - 'Bulls Gold' exhibition - The Artist's Room, Dunedin
2017 - Craigs Aspiring Art Awards - Winner
2016 - King's College Art Fair - Invited artist
2016 - Art House Tour, Auckland - Invited artist
2016 - Sensational Selwyn Awards - Arts and Culture - Winner
2016 - Craigs Aspiring Art Awards - selected artist
2015 - 'Distinguishable' purchased by Lincoln University for the permanent art collection
2015 - Group exhibition – Animals- Selwyn Gallery
2015 - Culverden Fete group exhibition selected artist
2015 - Craigs Aspiring Art Awards - selected artist
2014 - Solo exhibition – Imaginary Menagerie – XCHC Christchurch
2012-13 - Travelling exhibition with The Bitches’ Box and Mel Parsons
2011 - Guest artist at The Culverden Christmas Country Fete 20th year
2011 - Solo exhibition – Heads and Tails - Longbeach, Mid Canterbury
2010 - Solo exhibition – Beefed Up - Smyth Galleries, Auckland
2009 - Joint exhibition with Deb Britten - Smyth Galleries, Auckland
2003 - ‘Mother Daughter Exhibition’ - Akaroa
2003 - Rangi Ruru Charity Auction
2002 - Selwyn Exhibition – awarded Malvern Community Arts council ‘Young Achievers Award’
2001 - Group exhibition ‘Anna Guild and Friends’ – Selwyn Gallery, Darfield