Esther Dexter

Esther Dexter is a well-known artist in Central Otago, New Zealand. Recently moved to Auckland, she was inspired by Van Gogh, Matisse and even Don Binney, but she is recognised by her own unique use of acrylics and vivid textures to evoke graphic local land forms. Accompanying each work is often a brief history of the landscape incorporating human endeavours and geological facts.

Born in England in 1970, Esther is a self-taught artist. Although she is naturally innovative and experimental to her approach to image-making, Esther gleans inspiration and ideas from her creative family. Esther’s uncle is an architect and interior designer. Her mother studied at Hornsey College of Art and was always setting the example as an illustrator as Esther was growing up. In her early twenties Esther made her living as a portrait artist, and since moving to New Zealand has tutored at the Wanaka Art Centre.

Esther has received recognition at various events, including the People’s Choice Award at Waimumu Te Tipua Art and Craft Exhibition. Dexter’s art is often about contrasts – contrasts of texture and theme, man-made versus natural, realism versus abstract, calm versus turbulence and inhabitance versus emptiness.

Esther held her first Solo Exhibition "Ambi-Dexterous" in the Queenstown Lakes District Museum Gallery, Arrowtown in early 2016. Check the Otago Daily Times review. http://www.odt.co.nz/entertainment/arts/370399/art-seen-january-21.

She held her first solo exhibitiuon in our gallery May 2017.

Egg shells, hand-painted shattered glass and other secret mediums are Esther's latest techniques, creating some magnificent and varied artworks, without losing her uniquely recognisable style. Her quail, sheep and mountainous works have been very popular.

Recognitions and Awards

2021 Selected as one of the top ten artists at the 2021Christchurch Art Show

2020 Selected as one of the top ten artists at the 2020 Dunedin Art Show

2019 Highly commended, Auckland Easter Show art competition

2019 Selected as one of the top ten artists for the 2019 Dunedin Art Show

2019 Selected as one of the top ten artists for the 2019 Christchurch Art Show

2018 Selected as one of the top ten artists for the 2018 Christchurch Art Show

2017 Upper Clutha Art Prize

2014 Merit award, oil and acrylic Open NZ Easter Show, Auckland

2013 Wanaka Arts Society Easter exhibition Special Section theme.

2013 Alexandra Blossom festival Merit Award

2012 Merit Award , small painting division, NZ Easter show ,Auckland