Barry Lett

Barry Lett graduated from the University of Auckland, Elam School of Fine Arts in 1964. The following year, with Rodney Kirk Smith and Frank Lowe, he opened Barry Lett Galleries. The gallery represented the many of the leading painters of the 1960s and 1970s including Colin McCahon, Don Binney, Pat Hanly, Milan Mrkusich, Gordon Walters, Ralph Hotere, Michael Smither, Michael Illingworth and Robert Ellis. The gallery is also acclaimed for early support of 'post-object' artists such as Jim Allen and his students including Leon Narbey.

Lett left the gallery to paint full-time in 1975. Later he also began working in sculpture. Notable pieces include 'Red Dancer' (1990) on the exterior wall of Auckland’s Aotea Centre, 'Sail Away' (2006) for the Brick Bay Sculpture Trail and 'Woman with Bird' (1988), installed on the exterior terrace of the Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki.

See also:

• Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki obituary.