Bruce Mitchell

Born in Ashburton, Bruce Mitchell was a self-taught Tākaka-based sculptor who worked in the region for several decades. He primarily worked in stone, sourcing marble, granite, and jade from Tākaka Hill and other sites across the top of the South Island. He also created works in metal, shell and wood. Although never completed, he spent some time working towards establishing a sculpture park near his property on Tākaka hill with the hopes of bringing fellow sculptors together to work side by side.

In 1989 he was granted an award by the Ashburton Art Society. In 1991 he won the Golden Bay Art Award, and was also awarded a commission to create a large sculpture for Nelson City council, beating 22 other submissions.

His last work, ‘Kaka Beak’, was commissioned by the Tasman District Council and intended for the Richmond Library, however when Mitchell passed away suddenly in 2010 a decision was made to have the Tākaka marble sculpture completed by fellow sculptor Glen Davis in his memory, with the support of Mitchell’s family. The work was ultimately sited in Mitchell's hometown of Motueka where it can now be found on the corner of High and Wallace Streets.

See also:

• Kaka Beak, by Bruce Mitchell (NZ Outdoor Art Facebook post)