Christchurch artist Ross Gray is an advocate for the preservation of heritage buildings and his passion is reflected in his latest exhibition at the Ashburton Art Gallery. At a time when issues of architectural heritage, space and memory have grown with strength from the earthquake-altered landscape, Mr Gray’s exhibition is a reference to architectural drafts, the spanning of space, the importance of time and consultation of city heritage buildings and the span of his own art.

Ross Gray is a long established Christchurch contemporary painter and teacher of art. Born in 1945 in Wanganui, he graduated with a Dip.FA in Painting from the University Of Canterbury School Of Fine Arts in 1967 and a Diploma of Teaching from Christchurch College of Education in 1969. In 2003 he completed a MFA (Distinction) in painting at the University Of Canterbury School Of Fine Arts.

He was a full-time secondary teacher of art and art history from 1969 until 1995, including from 1981 as HoD Art at Cashmere High School. From 1999 to 2012 he taught drawing at the CPIT School of Art and Design and School of Architectural Studies. Working from a studio in the Chambers 241 building on Moorhouse Avenue, he now combines full-time painting with an on-going interest in post-earthquake heritage advocacy/activism.

Header Image: Ross Gray,  The Word 1, 2013. Copyright © 2015 AAG. All Rights Reserved.

Image: Ross Gray, Drawing, 2013. Copyright © 2015 AAG. All Rights Reserved.