Reflections & Refractions

Reflections & Refractions presents an expansive collection of paintings by Pōneke artist Heather Collie.

The interplay of colour and light are a central focus to the artworks that Collie present for this exhibition. Inspired by the Impressionists, Collie's paintings are grounded by a focus on the nature of light, 'how it bounces, dances and dazzles' and its ability to imbue a subject with the individual qualities of memory and emotion. Subjects of Collie's paintings draw from her everyday experiences - children playing and people connecting, interspersed with intimate moments in nature. Together they present as painterly snapshots in time, as seen through the individual lens of her careful gaze. 

There is a constant push and pull between reflecting on the past and looking to the future, of refracting outwards, in this body of paintings. Cherished memories are revisited and brought back to life via the emotive qualities of light and brushwork. In other works, most notably those focusing on nature, we see her let go of the goal of exact likeness and instead channel into her subject her current state and hopes for the future. 'Both reflecting (taking forward what we know) and refracting (exploring new things) are needed to find some balance in life.... This exhibition is my journey as I have learnt and sought to hone my skills as well as playing and exploring to see what happens when I let go'.

Heather is donating 25% of all exhibition sales to Ronald McDonald House. 'Having used the service last year when our son was in Starship Hospital, we have firsthand experience of how important Ronald McDonald House is in difficult times and would like to contribute back to others'.

Heather Collie is a painter working in Wellington. Through the brilliance of colour and light she seeks to paint in a way that brings a scene to life and stirs up emotion. For her, painting brings solace and a way to tap into creativity in an otherwise busy world. 

An environmental policy professional by trade, Heather's work often focuses on nature. In practice she seeks to reduce our impact on the environment by upcycling old prints/paintings from op-shops to make new paintings. Frames are made from reclaimed timber (mostly rimu) from housing renovations.