Portrait of Oroya ; Melvin Day; 1958 ; 2016.007
Shared by New Zealand Portrait Gallery Te Pūkenga Whakaata
Melvin Day (1923-2016) was a pioneering New Zealand painter whose bold Cubist works of the 1950s helped introduce European modernism to a conservative art scene. A scholar as well as an artist, he studied at London’s Courtauld Institute and later became Director of the National Art Gallery and Government Art Historian, all while painting prolifically and exhibiting widely. His wife, Oroya Day MBE (1931–2014), was a distinguished art historian, academic, and passionate advocate for heritage. She lectured at Victoria University of Wellington, co-founded the Wellington Civic Trust, led the Katherine Mansfield Birthplace Society, and was recognised in 1989 for her services to local history. Together, Melvin and Oroya forged one of New Zealand’s great art partnerships. Their long and happy marriage saw Melvin gift Oroya more than 90 artworks, which after their passing entered public collections across Aotearoa. Today, their legacy continues through the Oroya & Melvin Day Charitable Trust, supporting art history and heritage for future generations.
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Details
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Title
Portrait of Oroya ; Melvin Day; 1958 ; 2016.007
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Maker
Melvin Day
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Date made
1958
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Additional information
oil on canvas, 1170x 560
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Rights
All rights reserved
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Location
Shed 11, Queens Wharf, Wellington Waterfront
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New Zealand Portrait Gallery Te Pūkenga Whakaata
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Text adapted with permission from Te Papa and Digital NZ
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