Bessie Christie

Elizabeth Froomes Christie (3 August 1904 – 9 March 1983), generally known as Bessie Christie, was a New Zealand painter.[1][2]

Bessie Christie
Born
Elizabeth Froomes Christie

(1904-08-03)3 August 1904
Wellington, New Zealand
Died9 March 1983(1983-03-09) (aged 78)
Auckland, New Zealand
EducationElam School of Fine Art
Known forPainting

Career

Born in Wellington on 3 August 1904,[1][3] Christie trained at the Elam School of Fine Art at Auckland University College.[4] She taught art at Takapuna Grammar School between 1935 and 1940.[5]

During World War II she was a driver in the New Zealand Women's Auxiliary Army Corps and her paintings were included in the 1944 Artists in Uniform exhibition.[5][6]

Although Christie did paint some landscapes in oils,[4] she preferred to break with her contemporaries and depict vibrant social scenes, specifically set in Auckland.[5] Works include: Geddes' Stable Yard[4] and Tobacco Queue, Karangahape Rd, Auckland.[5]

During her career she was represented by the Auckland Art Gallery.[4]

Exhibitions

Christie exhibited with the Auckland Society of Arts (of which she was a member from 1933)[5][7] throughout the 1950s, exhibiting alongside A. Lois White, May Smith, Helen Brown, and Frances Hunt.[5]

She also exhibited with the New Zealand Academy of Fine Arts and the Rutland Group, an organisation formed by students from the Elam School of Fine Art.[8]

Death

Christie died in Auckland on 9 March 1983, and her body was cremated at Purewa Crematorium.[1][9]

References
  1. "Christie, Bessie". Find New Zealand artists: a database of artist names. Retrieved 20 September 2017.
  2. "Bessie Christie". Auckland Art Gallery. Retrieved 20 September 2017.
  3. "Birth search: registration number 1904/10386". Births, deaths & marriages online. Department of Internal Affairs. Retrieved 20 September 2017.
  4. "Bessie Christie". nzetc.victoria.ac.nz. Retrieved 20 September 2017.
  5. "Tobacco Queue, Karangahape Rd, Auckland". www.fletchercollection.co.nz. Archived from the original on 30 January 2018. Retrieved 20 September 2017.
  6. "New Zealand artists in uniform: exhibition of paintings and drawings". Retrieved 20 September 2017.
  7. "Artists exhibited with Auckland Society of Arts". Find New Zealand artists: a database of artist names. Retrieved 20 September 2017.
  8. "Artists exhibited with Rutland Group". Find New Zealand artists: a database of artist names. Retrieved 20 September 2017.
  9. "Burial & cremation details". Purewa Cemetery and Crematorium. Retrieved 20 September 2017.

Further reading

Artist files for Christie are held at:

Also see: Concise Dictionary of New Zealand Artists McGahey, Kate (2000) Gilt Edge

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