Paul Dibble

1943-2023, Waitakaruru in the Thames district

Paul Dibble was a leading artist of his generation. He created a rich body of sculptural works for public and private contexts over the course of decades. He was particularly well-known for his large-scale, cast bronze sculptures, though was also well-versed in working on a domestic scale. Dibble developed his own purpose-built foundry and was one of only a few sculptors in New Zealand to cast their own large-scale works. Dibble passed away late in 2023, leaving an extraordinary artistic legacy.

Key themes in Dibble’s sculptural work include native flora and fauna, cultural history, architecture, and the human figure. In recent years, he created work that engages with ecological themes. His final solo exhibition at Gow Langsford Gallery, Huia Sings Alone, provided an excellent case in point, reflecting on the extinct huia.

A high point of Dibble’s career was the successful commission of The New Zealand Hyde Park Corner Memorial in London. This permanent sculpture was unveiled in Hyde Park in 2006 by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. Dibble’s work features prominently in public collections across the country, including Te Papa Tongarewa, Museum of New Zealand. His work is the subject of three monographs, Paul Dibble X: A decade of Sculpture 2010-2020 The Large Works (Bateman, 2012) and Paul Dibble (Bateman, 2002). He studied at Elam School of Fine Arts, University of Auckland, receiving a Bachelor of Fine Arts in 1967 and was awarded an Honorary Doctorate by Massey University in 2007.

Gow Langsford Gallery represented Paul Dibble from 1990 – 2023 and continues to represent his estate.

Since his passing in 2023, unfulfilled editions of artworks may be cast posthumously by the Dibble Art Studio, with permission from and under supervision of his Estate.  These works will be shown on our records as Estate of Paul Dibble with the original date of the edition and the date of casting.