A Life of Art and Illustration
Russell Clark was a New Zealand artist, illustrator, sculptor, and university lecturer. Born in Christchurch, he studied at the Canterbury College School of Art from 1922 to 1928. His early career included work as a commercial artist for John McIndoe in Dunedin, where he also held art classes. In 1937, he moved to Wellington to join the advertising agency Catts, Paterson, and Co. During this time, he was commissioned to produce a large-scale mural for the New Zealand Centennial Exhibition building, titled The Departure of the Tory from Plymouth, 1840.
Clark was deeply involved in publication design, contributing covers, illustrations, and cartoons to the New Zealand Listener from its first issue in 1939 until 1962. His illustrations also appeared in Radio Weekly and the New Zealand School Journal. In 1944, he served as an official war artist in the Solomon Islands.
Teaching and Sculpture
In 1947, Clark moved to Christchurch to teach at the Canterbury University College School of Art, eventually becoming a senior lecturer in painting. His sculptural work included several large-scale public commissions, such as:
- The Timaru Telephone Exchange sculpture, known as The Ear
- A mural for Christchurch airport
- Anchor stones (Matahora and Tainui) in Auckland
- Opo The Dolphin in Opononi
- Family Group for the Hay's Shopping Centre
- A fountain for Armagh Court, Christchurch
- Free Standing Forms at the Lower Hutt Civic Centre
His work is held in various collections, including the Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki and Te Papa Tongarewa Museum of New Zealand.
