Phillip Trusttum

Philip Trusttum (born in 1940) is recognised as one of the major expressive painters of his generation, known particularly for his large works full of energy, colour, and vigour, inspired by the everyday world as he engages with it, whether politics, events, family, stories, and objects.

Philip Trusttum graduated with a Diploma in Fine Arts from the University of Canterbury in 1964, where he was taught by Rudolf Gopas, who was to prove a strong influence on the young artist, and through him became interested in expressionism. He was also to become a member of The Group an influential group of Canterbury artists whose members included Colin McCahon, Toss Woollaston and Doris Lusk.

In 1967, Trusttum was awarded a Queen Elizabeth II Arts Council scholarship for travel to develop his practice, though his initial overseas trip, to Australia, was met with disaster when many of his finished canvases were damaged in transit. Since then his travels have taken him to both North America and Europe.

Since the early 1970s Trusttum’s work has largely been inspired by everyday life experiences often worked into a semi-abstract form. His subject matter has ranged from house renovation to tennis, horses to Japanese masks and more recently portraits.

In 1984, Trusttum participated in ANZART at the Edinburgh Arts Festival. He has shown in Sydney, New York, and Melbourne, as well as in all New Zealand’s main centres. In 2000 he became only the second New Zealand artist to be awarded the prestigious Pollock Krasner Foundation grant. In the 2021 Queen’s Birthday Honours, Trusttum was appointed an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit, for services to art.

Exhibitions:
2024 – Me
2025 – At Work