The work of New Zealand artist Tim Wilson, who passed away in 2020, will be exhibited at Art in the Park in Auckland this September.

The large-scale art event returns to Auckland’s Eden Park from 8 – 11 September, showcasing over 100 of the country’s greatest creatives, from up-and-coming talent to renowned artists.

For Art in the Park 2022, 40 new artists have joined the show, which sees the rugby stadium transformed into a large-scale exhibition.

For the first time since 2017, the work of legendary landscape painter Tim Wilson will be exhibited outside of his Queenstown gallery. Wilson, who passed away in 2020, was renowned for his stunning depictions of Aotearoa’s natural beauty.

If New Zealand could paint itself, it would paint like Tim Wilson. This is an opportunity for kiwis to see a once-in-a lifetime global talent represent their country’s extraordinary landscapes with the inimitable skill of an old master, says Art in the Park Director, Sofija Matich.

Speaking to MiNDFOOD, the artist’s husband Vaj Ekanayake says that he knew Wilson would have been a huge supporter of the event, which offers a supportive platform for artists. “It’s been two years since Tim passed away in 2020 and where we have always handled Tim’s work exclusively it now feels right to also be showing New Zealanders through this event what an incredible talent we had in Tim …. so I’m really excited!”

Wilson’s style of painting, which is often described as having a magical realism quality, saw him not only recognised in his home country, but on the global stage, meeting Bill Clinton and selling work to Shania Twain.

“No-one painted the way Tim did. His beautiful landscapes are all about light and the key thing about landscapes HAS to be about light – thats what grabs people. His knowledge of the use and depth of colour, the fine details and the way these paintings react to changes in light is just extraordinary,” says Ekanayake.

He managed to capture the spirit of the landscape so that viewers would be able to imagine what it would feel like to be in that moment. I’m constantly humbled by the way so many people from all over the world and from different walks of life still connect emotionally to these works. Tims artwork has a soul, that’s why we all have that connection with them.

Tickets are now on sale for Art in the Park, which runs from 8-11 September. Visit artinthepark.co.nz