Overview

b. 1935, New Zealand
Lives in New York, USA

Max Gimblett’s practice is rich with influences and philosophical engagement, from Abstract Expressionism to Eastern and Western spiritual beliefs. Known for creating distinct canvas shapes, particularly the quatrefoil, he engages in his own form of expressive abstract painting. Gimblett continues to experiment with gesture, colour, and precious metals in his practice today. Bridging cultures and spiritualities, his work draws from concepts of consciousness and enlightenment. This is reflected in the production methods and colour choices behind his gestural abstract paintings.

Born in New Zealand, Gimblett has been primarily based in New York since 1972. He continues to exhibit regularly in both locations. This mix of geographic locations and cultures is evident in the aesthetic of his work. His practice consists largely of object-based painting, with the use of shaped canvases to convey various associations and meanings. The particular shapes Gimblett has used include the oval, rectangle, tondo, keystone, and the quatrefoil – for which he is most recognised. The quatrefoil dates back to pre-Christian times and is found in the iconography of both Western and Eastern religions. It has been used to symbolise various spiritual symbols including the window, the cross, the rose, and the lotus. Gimblett states, “The quatrefoil is the female cross, the curvilinear, the Jungian ‘anima’, the transition from the Trinity to the Quaternity. It is the dominant shape of my oeuvre.”

Gimblett has exhibited in a range of prominent international contexts, including the 2009 exhibition The Third Mind: American Artists Contemplate Asia, 1860-1989 at the Solomon R. Guggenheim, New York. In 2011, he presented a solo exhibition in the series The Word of God at the Warhol Museum in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. In New Zealand, Gimblett’s profile is prominent. Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki hosted The Brush of All Things, a major survey exhibition curated by Wystan Curnow. His works are held in the collections of all major public galleries and institutions in the country. He became an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit for his services to Art in 2015, and in 2017, he was awarded an Honorary Doctorate from The University of Waikato for his contributions as an artist, scholar, teacher, and philanthropist.

Gimblett is the subject of several publications including the monograph Max Gimblett (Craig Potton and Gow Langsford Gallery, 2002), Max Gimblett: The Brush of All Things (Auckland Art Gallery, 2004) Workspace (Charta, 2010) and Max Gimblett (Charta, 2013).

Gow Langsford Gallery has represented Max Gimblett since 1988.

Works
  • Max Gimblett, All in All, 2025
    All in All, 2025
  • Max Gimblett, Bridge, 2025
    Bridge, 2025
  • Max Gimblett, Centuries, 2025
    Centuries, 2025
  • Max Gimblett, Classic-2, 2025
    Classic-2, 2025
  • Max Gimblett, Deep Beauty, 2025
    Deep Beauty, 2025
  • Max Gimblett, Deep Water Cove, 2025
    Deep Water Cove, 2025
  • Max Gimblett, Entrance, 2025
    Entrance, 2025
  • Max Gimblett, Ethereal, 2025
    Ethereal, 2025
  • Max Gimblett, Gate, 2025
    Gate, 2025
  • Max Gimblett, Half Moon, 2025
    Half Moon, 2025
  • Max Gimblett, Magic, 2025
    Magic, 2025
  • Max Gimblett, Mother Pacific, 2025
    Mother Pacific, 2025
  • Max Gimblett, Still Altar, 2025
    Still Altar, 2025
  • Max Gimblett, The Open Door, 2025
    The Open Door, 2025
  • Max Gimblett, This World, 2025
    This World, 2025
  • Max Gimblett, Threshold, 2025
    Threshold, 2025
  • Max Gimblett, Leaves of Grass, 2024
    Leaves of Grass, 2024
  • Max Gimblett, Sound, 2024
    Sound, 2024
  • Max Gimblett, Sunrise, 2024
    Sunrise, 2024
  • Max Gimblett, The Path of Beauty, 2024
    The Path of Beauty, 2024
  • Max Gimblett, The Path of Color, 2024
    The Path of Color, 2024
  • Max Gimblett, Holy Gesture, 2023
    Holy Gesture, 2023
  • Max Gimblett, Paradise, 2023
    Paradise, 2023
  • Max Gimblett, Pilgrim, 2023
    Pilgrim, 2023
  • Max Gimblett, The Altar, 2023
    The Altar, 2023
  • Max Gimblett, The River and the Jungle, 2023
    The River and the Jungle, 2023
  • Max Gimblett, Full Sail, 2022-23
    Full Sail, 2022-23
  • Max Gimblett, Hands of Gold, 2022-23
    Hands of Gold, 2022-23
  • Max Gimblett, A Map of the World, 2022
    A Map of the World, 2022
  • Max Gimblett, Against the Grain, 2022
    Against the Grain, 2022
  • Max Gimblett, Before the Storm, 2022
    Before the Storm, 2022
  • Max Gimblett, Being, 2022
    Being, 2022
  • Max Gimblett, Birth of Light, 2022
    Birth of Light, 2022
  • Max Gimblett, Eclipse, 2022
    Eclipse, 2022
  • Max Gimblett, Go Drink Your Tea!, 2022
    Go Drink Your Tea!, 2022
  • Max Gimblett, Herald, 2022
    Herald, 2022
  • Max Gimblett, In The Garden, 2022
    In The Garden, 2022
  • Max Gimblett, Sea of the Land, 2022
    Sea of the Land, 2022
  • Max Gimblett, The Wild One, 2022
    The Wild One, 2022
  • Max Gimblett, Tiger - Homage to Delacroix, 2022
    Tiger - Homage to Delacroix, 2022
  • Max Gimblett, To Turn a Somersault on a Needle's Point, 2022
    To Turn a Somersault on a Needle's Point, 2022
  • Max Gimblett, Turning Tide, 2022
    Turning Tide, 2022
  • Max Gimblett, Golden Inspiration, 2021/2023
    Golden Inspiration, 2021/2023
  • Max Gimblett, A Walk by the River, 2021
    A Walk by the River, 2021
  • Max Gimblett, The Open Road, 2021
    The Open Road, 2021
  • Max Gimblett, The Golden Trail, 2020
    The Golden Trail, 2020
  • Max Gimblett, Lady of the Lake, 2019
    Lady of the Lake, 2019
  • Max Gimblett, Panther - After Henri Rosseau, 2019
    Panther - After Henri Rosseau, 2019
  • Max Gimblett, Passages of Light, 2019
    Passages of Light, 2019
  • Max Gimblett, Sheridan Square, 2011
    Sheridan Square, 2011
  • Max Gimblett, The Birth, 2009/2022
    The Birth, 2009/2022
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