Reuben Paterson (b. 1973 Auckland Tāmaki Makaurau, Ngati Rangitihi, Ngāi Tūhoe, Tūhourangi) harnesses the mesmerizing properties of light through his practice. Paterson is renowned for his inimitable, iridescent paintings, made through a distinctive application of glitter on canvas. These paintings encompass all manner of subject matter — from cloudscapes to wild cats, botanical blooms, kōwhaiwhai, and fireworks — each providing a source of exploration, contemplation, and self-reflection for the artist.
Paterson’s sculptural work similarly engages with the dynamic subtleties of light, with his recent work Guide Kaiārahi (2021) at Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki drawing upon Māori cosmology and creation narratives in the form of a 10-metre-high waka made from iridescent crystals.
Paterson graduated from the University of Auckland’s Elam School of Fine Arts in 1997, following which he was awarded a residency in France as part of the prestigious Moet & Chandon Art Fellowship. Paterson has undertaken major public sculpture commissions and international exhibitions include the Prague Biennial and Centro de Arte Caja De Burgos, Spain; The Cambridge Museum, England; and the Institute of Modern Art, Brisbane, Australia.