cover Colours of Home #001 above courtesy of artist
viewing Wednesday 16 April — Saturday 10 May
open hours
Monday — Friday 9am — 5.30pm Saturday 11am — 3pm
location
Webb’s Gallery 23 Marion Street Te Aro Wellington 6011
Virginia Woods-Jack Exhibitions Manager
+64 22 679 8664
virginia@webbs.co.nz
Colours of Home brings together an entirely new body of work created specifically for Webb’s Wellington Gallery, around a single theme. “In a way it’s chronological, it represents a journey and tells a story,” says the artist, “the single source of inspiration being a collection of spring cuttings taken while out walking with my family.” These cuttings were spread out on the kitchen table, photographed hundreds of times in various arrangements, and scanned. “The photographs, colours and forms were then broken down, rearranged, abstracted and recorded in the same manner that much of my previous work has been,” continues Patté, mentioning a similar process used in his Sweet Pea Diptych, a work that sold last year to a collection owned by the Qatari Royal family.
“I wanted to create a single expanse of harmonious colour. Something that is related to the way the fields of blossom burst into life here in late January and fill your view. This sets the scene for the show,” said Patté.
The British-born artist, who originally migrated to Wellington in 2006 to work for Wētā Workshops, lived in New Zealand for over 15 years during which his personal, artistic practice grew to international acclaim.
“Moving to New Zealand was key to my artistic development,” Patté continues, “giving me freedom over my time and the support to move from film to my own practice. Wellington and Wētā provided access to technology and brilliant technicians, catalysing my Light Works and Infinity Works series. Life on the south coast inspired the concepts behind them. I found success through the connections I made and a supportive collectorship unique to New Zealand.”
Virginia Woods-Jack Curator
Virginia Woods-Jack is an artist and curator who migrated to Wellington, from the UK, over 20 years ago. At Webb’s Wellington, the affable Virginia is tasked both with some of the complex logistical and administrative elements needed to put together a fast-paced schedule of exhibitions, as well as curatorial and client-facing aspects of the business.
We are honoured to have such a significant number of new artworks, specifically made for this exhibition, by such an internationally renowned artist with a strong connection to Aotearoa and Wellington in particular.
Colours of Home encompasses new paintings, sculpture and Infinity Works. These are full of colour and joy, and show a continuation of Max's dedicated exploration of light, colour, abstraction and strong geometries.
By eschewing realistic portrayal, Max departs from the romanticised view of nature often found in classical art. Instead, the focus on abstraction emphasises form, colour and light, aligning with postmodern sensibilities. This departure encourages viewers to reconsider their relationship with familiar subjects, moving towards an appreciation of structure and visual language over explicit content.
Through the various mediums Max has employed for Colours of Home we feel the beauty of Mallorca’s almond blossoms as if through a kaleidoscopic vision, changing and revealing itself anew in front of our very eyes.
British-born Max Patté is a multimedia contemporary artist. He studied at the Wimbledon School of Art in London (1997-2000) and was elected an Associate of the Royal Society of British Sculptors in 2008. Since opening his studio in 2014, Patté has immersed himself in an exploration of the elemental nature of light, space and colour. To date this exploration spans sculpture, painting and light art. He cites advances in modern technologies as a constant source of inspiration and uses an impressive array in his day-to-day operations. Patté currently resides in Mallorca, Spain.
Exhibition Highlights 2022 — 2024
2024 Art Miami, USA
2024 The Armory Show, New York’s Art Fair USA
2024 Art Dubai
2024 KIAF Art Seoul
2024 We Live in a Rainbow of Chaos, Kelli Lundberg Art, Melbourne AU
2024 Solo Show ISLA, House of Fine Art, London, UK
2023 Solo Show Aftersun, Gallery Red, Palma de Mallorca, SP
2022 Max Patté + Lightworx Sydney, Sydney, AU
2022 Palm Beach Modern Contemporary, Miami, USA
2025
mixed media
24v power supply
electrical cable, 240v plug
1460 × 1220mm
price
$56,000
2025
mixed media
24v power supply
electrical cable, 240v plug
1460 × 1220mm
price $56,000
mixed media
24v power supply
electrical cable, 240v plug
1460 × 1220mm
price
$56,000
5 Max Patté Colours of Home #001
2025 oil on canvas
1730 × 1305mm
price $18,800
6 Max Patté Colours of Home #002
2025 oil on canvas
1730 × 1305mm
price $18,800
7 Max Patté Colours of Home #003
2025 oil on canvas
1730 × 1305mm
price $18,800
8 Max Patté Colours of Home #004
2025 oil on canvas
1730 × 1305mm
price $18,800
9 Max Patté Colours of Home #005
2025 oil on canvas
1730 × 1305mm
price $18,800
10 Max Patté Colours of Home #006
2025 oil on canvas
1730 × 1305mm
price $18,800
11 Max Patté Colours of Home #007
2025 oil on canvas
1730 × 1305mm
price $18,800
12 Max Patté Colours of Home #008
2025 oil on canvas
1730 × 1305mm
price $18,800
“This will be my most significant show in some time. Colours of Home draws inspiration from Mallorca’s spring, especially almond blossoms. It represents a journey that began with a family walk along the lanes that head out to the nearby winery in our hometown. It's a collection that reflects my day-to-day life, a life of experimentation and play. Hopefully, some of this playfulness, some of the joy I find through making art and a life spent in colour, finds its way into the work.
Max Patté
14 Max Patté Cluster #006 2024
painted stainless steel edition of 2/3 + AP
1000 × 1400 × 600mm
price $44,000
15 Max Patté Cluster #006a 2025
painted resin edition 1/7 + AP
390 × 550 × 280mm
price $16,000
16 Max Patté Cluster #011 2024
painted stainless steel edition 1/3 + AP
1500mm at widest point price $44,000
17 Max Patté Cluster #0011a 2025
painted resin edition 1/7 + AP
430 × 490 × 330mm price $16,000
18 Max Patté Beau 2025 painted bronze edition of 1 + AP
1300 × 400 × 300mm
price $38,000
20 Max Patté Primavera 2025
infinity work mixed media
24v power supply
electrical cable, 240v plug edition of 7
800mm diameter
price $16,800
21 Max Patté Meadow 2025
infinity work mixed media
24v power supply
electrical cable, 240v plug edition of 7
800mm diameter
price $16,800
22 Max Patté Colour Field 2025
infinity work mixed media
24v power supply
electrical cable, 240v plug edition of 7
800mm diameter
price $16,800
23 Max Patté Deia 2025
infinity work mixed media
24v power supply
electrical cable, 240v plug edition of 2/7
800mm diameter
price $16,800
24 Max Patté Cupid 2024
infinity work mixed media
24v power supply
electrical cable, 240v plug edition of 4/7
800mm diameter
price $16,800
25 Max Patté Meadows Embrace 2025
infinity work mixed media
24v power supply
electrical cable, 240v plug
1100mm diameter
price $42,000
26 Max Patté Veils 2025
infinity work mixed media
24v power supply
electrical cable, 240v plug
1100mm diameter
price
$42,000
27 Max Patté Nimbus Tears 2025
concave infinity work mixed media
24v power supply
electrical cable, 240v plug
1500mm diameter
price
$58,000
28 Max Patté Spring Symphony 2025
infinity work
mixed media
24v power supply
electrical cable, 240v plug
1618mm diameter
price $56,000
2025
infinity work
mixed media
24v power supply
electrical cable, 240v plug
1600mm diameter
price $56,000
30 Max Patté
Unfolding #001 2025
polished stainless steel edition of 3
1560 × 1300 × 400mm
price $56,000
31 Max Patté
Unfurling #002 2025
painted stainless steel edition of 3
1100 × 800 × 300mm
price $42,000
Virginia Woods-Jack Exhibitions Manager +64 22 679 8664 virginia@webbs.co.nz
Mark Hutchins-Pond Senior Specialist, Art +64 22 095 5610 mark@webbs.co.nz
Karen Rigby Business Manager +64 22 344 5610 karen@webbs.co.nz