East Coast: Karl Maughan

Karl Maughan, one of Aotearoa's most recognisable contemporary painters, is celebrated for his large-scale depictions of gardens, where dense foliage and brilliant flowers create immersive environments. East Coast is his latest series of paintings, which expand on his iconic exploration of lush botanicals, incorporating not only vibrant garden scenes but also a striking coastal element. These works invite viewers into an environment where land and sea converge.

Maughan’s process is deeply rooted in the observation and study of cultivated nature. The scenes he paints are often composites of places he has visited, but they are altered through memory and imagination, resulting in spaces that feel familiar yet surreal. His paintings are as much about the idea of paradise as they are about tangible gardens—they are spaces of contemplation, abundance, and sometimes, mystery.

East Coast is a body of work that speaks to the unique coastal environment of Aotearoa’s eastern shores. The native pōhutukawa’s vibrant red flowers contrast vividly with the clear blue of the sky and deep blue of the sea in Matakana. These works ask us to consider the interplay between the cultivated and the untamed, the real and the imagined.