Art and Conservation Converge in the Town Belt /  by Sam Foley

Established Ōtepoti/Dunedin artist Sam Foley's recent show The Green Belt Invitational invited an exciting array of local and national artists to showcase works drawing upon their inspiration from our green spaces. Sam also used the show as a vehicle to facilitate awareness of and a generous $5,000 donation to Predator Free Dunedin's City Sanctuary project. 

We caught up with Sam in his Ōtepoti/Dunedin studio to talk about inspiration, the intersection between art and urban conservation, and his involvement in City Sanctuary as a backyard trapper. 

Read the full article here…

Limited-edition fundraiser for City Sanctuary /  by Sam Foley

With the opening of The Green Belt Invitational last week at Olveston Historic Home, I’m happy to announce the release of this limited-edition print with all proceeds donated to City Sanctuary. Their tireless pest-control mahi in and around our city has hugely contributed to the flourishing of flora and fauna over the last decade.

Here’s a few pics from the evening, featuring Kate Tanner from City Sanctuary as the guest speaker, along with celebrated poet Richard Reeve. It was truly a roaring success.


Commissioned cameo in Grand Designs NZ reveal /  by Sam Foley

What a nice surprise to see my 2024 commissioned painting of the Mairangi Bay Surf Club make a background appearance in the big reveal for this truly remarkable ‘beach house’ build.

A big thank you to the owners Mark and Cherilyn Rice, and Pauline Bianchi at Artbay Gallery, Queenstown.

https://www.stuff.co.nz/home-property/360682164/grand-designs-nz-not-bach-heres-what-12m-gets-you-beach

https://www.tvnz.co.nz/shows/grand-designs-nz/episodes/s9-e3

Winning work made ‘banal’ enthralling /  by Sam Foley

Making the "almost banal" enthralling proved to be the winning formula at the Craigs Aspiring Art Prize last weekend. Wellington artist Zoe Marsden took home the $20,000 acquisition prize for her oil painting The Lookout, which depicts an abandoned police hut overlooking the motorway in Thordon.

Sam Foley, a renowned contemporary New Zealand Landscape painter and one of the prize’s two judges, said he had been drawn to the winning image by its subject, which had stuck with him on the drive from Dunedin.

"For once, I didn’t actually ask how — I asked what and then why. What appealed to me is that search by the artist to find an almost banal subject, and then present it in such a curious way. For me, it’s such a strong image but also so subtly ambiguous in its nature. Really strong work, in my opinion."

Now in its 17th year, the annual fundraiser for Wānaka’s Holy Family Catholic School draws artists from across New Zealand to submit original pieces for judgement.

Click here for the full ODT article.