Alexander Roderick Fraser

Born in Edinburgh, Scotland, Fraser studied at the Heriot-Watt College (now University), in Edinburgh. After graduating, he traveled to New Zealand to teach at the Wellington Technical College. He returned to England between 1908 and 1910 to further his studies in sculpture at the Royal College of Art London. There he was taught by Professor Lanterry and Sir William Goscombe John RA, even exhibiting with RA between 1913 and 1935.

After a short return to Wellington (1911-14) Alex returned to England, serving as a draughtsman with the British Flying Corps, 1916–18. His significant work in the 1920s, completed with Samuel Hurst Seager, included designing and producing a commemorative panel at Le Quesnoy (1923) remembering New Zealand Forces' service in France.

In 1937 Alex returned to Wellington, teaching at the Technical College and eventually establishing a studio which was described in papers as an "airy studio, up a couple of flights from Lambton Quay, is a fire with interest to anyone even remotely concerned with this form of art." In New Zealand Alex would produce, among other works, a bust of Sir Āpirana Ngata (c.1945) and the Joy Fountain (1946) in Wellington’s Botanic Gardens. He died in Wellington in 1953.

See also:

• 'Le Quesnoy memorial' (New Zealand History ~ Nga Korero a ipurangi o Aotearoa)
• 'Alexander R. Fraser', Mapping the Practice and Profession of Sculpture in Britain and Ireland 1851-1951, University of Glasgow History of Art and HATII, online database 2011
• Alexander Fraser, Sir Apirana Ngata, c.1945. University of Canterbury ~ Te Whare Wānaga o Waitaha. Art Collection.
• ’N.Z. SCULPTOR'S WORK ACCEPTED BY ACADEMY’ Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 22675, 28 June 1948, Page 6.