Presenter

Wellington artist Kirsty Lillico spent four months living in Whanganui in late 2024 as the Tylee Cottage artist in residence. Those months in Whanganui represented a treasured break in ‘regular programming’ – a get away from big city fast lane living, a break from the 9-5 work schedule and a change of outlook. The residency was an opportunity for Lillico to follow a line of inquiry unconstrained by time limits, work pressures and to allow herself to be directed by the materials themselves.

The resultant exhibition Heavy Falls has just opened at the Sarjeant Gallery and shows an artist wondrously inquisitive about her materials and fearless in her approach to them. Known for her inventive use of carpet, rope and other everyday materials, Lillico creates large scale works that sit between sculpture, craft and drawing. Heavy Falls heralds an artist revelling in her practice, exploring structure, tension, weight and material relationships with intelligence, humour and curiosity.

The Tylee Cottage residency is one of New Zealand’s oldest artist residencies and has nurtured New Zealand artists for the last 40 years. It is administered by Te Whare o Rehua Sarjeant Gallery and generously supported by Creative New Zealand.