The concepts that underpin my work are a deep connection and love of nature and place, particularly the West Coast of NZ. I paint both en plein air and in my studio. Painting outside on the West coast is a mad challenge that fills me with wonder, facing the weather behind a flax bush is a dance I love. I also sculpt with clay, enjoying the challenge of using materials in ways that may offer new insights and perceptions into how things might be seen.
Clay feeds my need to work 3 dimensionally enhancing my understanding of form and offers the opportunity to experiment and express ideas I am passionate about. Recent work includes building blocks prompted by a long gestation in trying to build our new home. Women as home in response to the housing shortage.
Eight years ago, I completed my MFA at Whitecliffe, graduating with multi-screen video for my final exhibition.
Recent work includes ‘Earth NFS’, 250cm long ellipse shaped clay wall painting, Waiclay, Waikato Museum. As a painter and clay worker this was an amazing challenge.
Elsa Lye MFA (Hons), multidisciplinary artist.