Jason Greig

Lyttelton-based artist Jason Greig is one of New Zealand’s preeminent printmakers and is highly regarded here and overseas. Graduating from the University of Canterbury School of Fine Arts in 1985 with Honours in Engraving, he studied printmaking under Barry Cleavin and taught at both Otago and Canterbury.

A virtuoso of the printmaker’s technique and a consummate artist, Greig works in lithographs, monoprints, drawings, paintings and etchings and exhibits regularly around New Zealand. His work is held in a number of collections including the National Art Gallery, Wellington, the Hocken Library in Dunedin, the Christchurch Art Gallery and the Aigantighe Art Gallery Timaru. In 2006 the Christchurch Art Gallery hosted a major survey of Greig’s work, The Devil Made Me Do It and in 2010 Greig was among 8 artists representing New Zealand at the Sydney Bienniale.

His prints are often described as ‘gothic’ and have a sombre or macabre mood to them, subverted somewhat by a black sense of humour and a rock and roll sensibility at heart. Each image is full of rich depth and hauntingly poetic, romantic atmosphere. He is also plays Fender Stratocaster in the well-known art band Into the Void, which was the subject of the 2014 documentary film of the same name. In 2017 his work featured in two major exhibitions, The Dark Arts at Wellington City Gallery, and Your Hotel Brain at Christchurch Art Gallery Te Puna o Waiwhetū.

Dr Andrew Paul Wood