Join us in the Gallery for Dr Mark Stocker’s lecture on artist Molly Macalister who features works in our current exhibition In the Round: Portraits by Women Sculptors.

Molly Macalister (1920-1979) who features in the New Zealand Portrait Gallery’s current exhibition, was the sculptor of Maori Chief (unveiled 1967), opposite the Auckland ferry terminal. It is a highly significant sculpture, as it was the first truly modern public art work of its kind in Aotearoa New Zealand.

In this lecture, Mark Stocker examines Molly Macalister’s development as a pioneering New Zealand modernist, and tells the story of this monumental masterpiece  which is sadly underrated today.

 Dr Mark Stocker is a semi-retired art historian who lives in Christchurch.  His 35-year career included stints at the universities of Canterbury and Otago, and at Te Papa. He has notched up over 250 publications, mostly in the areas of public monuments and sculpture, New Zealand art and numismatics (coin and medal design).

His latest book is When Britain Went Decimal: The Coinage of 1971  (Royal Mint/Spink).  Mark is a fellow of the Society of Antiquaries and a Fellow of the Royal Historical Society.

This is a free lecture. Everyone is welcome to attend.