Ken Kendall

Ken Kendall was born in Fielding. While living in Rotorua in 1970 he transitioned from teaching art to to professional bronze sculpting. Around 1978, after travelling in Europe, he moved to Titirangi, Auckland, eventually opening a gallery in lower Queen Street with his partner Johanna.

In 1981 he came to prominence with a commissioned from Sir John Pagan to produce a figure playing polo as a gift for Prince Charles. Later, in 1985, he was commissioned to produce the prizes, 18 figurative bronze sculptures, for the Sir David Beattie New Zealand journalism award.

Kendall returned to the Wairarapa in 1997, to live in Masterton. There he produced the 'Russian Jack' (1999) statue and a larger work representing Joseph Masters (2004), a founder of Masterton, for the 150th-year celebrations.

Kendall defined his practice as being a "three-dimensional story teller."

See also:

• Jonathan Grant Gallery
• Ken Kendall and Helen Wilkins. A Bronze Affair : Ken Kendall in His Own Words. Cuba Press 2018.