Jim Wheeler

For background on the artist and works, see below.

Current Works

About the Artist

‘With my sculptural practice I intuitively select botanical subjects from the New Zealand bush. Having studied forest ecology alongside sculpture at university my choices are guided by both disciplines. The focus is the growing, guiding behaviour of plants within their environment and the regenerative power of nature during the Anthropocene. We live our lives governed by aspects of creation, preservation and destruction as do plants. My goal is to find parallels between the human condition and Nature in the largest sense while drawing attention to discovered beauty.’ – Jim Wheeler, 2019

Recent Works

Recently, Wheeler has shown at Sculpture in the Gardens (Auckland Botanic Gardens), Brick Bay Sculpture Trail (Matakana), Sculpture on the Gulf, Sculpture On The Shore, James Wallace Arts Centre, Tauranga Art Gallery, Canterbury Museum, Sculpture in the Woolshed (Tawharanui), and at Shapeshifter (the New Douse Museum). 

More About the Artist

Jim Wheeler grew up in a small North Carolina town, U.S.A. He studied Art and Biology at the University of North Carolina, Greensboro, graduating with a B.A. in Studio Art (cum laude). A two year renaissance style apprenticeship (Johnson Atelier, Princeton, N.J.) in the techniques of sculpture provided Jim with the skills to immigrate to New Zealand in 1981 where he helped set up Art Works Studio. Leaving in 1989 to become a full time exhibiting sculptor; undertaking public and private commissions, an M.I.T. lecturer 1995-6, and Lord of the Rings department head, 1999. He has been exhibiting since 1979, with eight solo and numerous group shows.   His works are held in the British Museum, the Fitzwilliam Museum (UK), the University of North Carolina in the Greensboro Vice Chancellor’s Purchase Award Collection (USA), the Auckland Museum, the Auckland Botanic Gardens, and the James Wallace Arts Trust.