Frolic - Sculpture by Lisa Higgins

Lisa Higgins was born in Auckland in 1972 and earned a BFA (Sculpture & Jewellery) from Unitec, Auckland in 1993. In her final year, she was commissioned to do a major work for the Titirangi roundabout. In 2017, this work, 'Bush Markers', featuring three 4.5 M tall fungus-inspired sculptures, won 'International Roundabout of the Year’.

Working with students on a commission for Rosehill College, led to a postgraduate teaching diploma, and a career as an art teacher. Two years after being appointed Head of Photography at Long Bay College, Auckland, an opportunity arose to do aid work in Nairobi, Kenya. As part of a NZ technical institute initiative, Lisa was hired to set up a fine arts program aimed at providing street boys with the means to earn a living. After 2 years in this role, Lisa returned to Auckland where she continued teaching secondary school art.

Leaving full-time teaching after becoming pregnant, Lisa spent 12 years concentrating on her family, returning to serious art-making in 2019. Fascinated with how fungi show beautiful things coming from death, she completed a body of work called 'Coming Out of the Shadows', reflecting her own journey back to the joy of art-making.

Following on, 'Frolic' is a commentary on Covid. Remembering when she first heard the news and recalling the fear, uncertainty, and social shock she saw around her, she wanted this exhibition to be a collection of joyful, uplifting works that would make people smile again. “It is important that while we might be going through a difficult time, we should remain hopeful that good things will follow.”

Lisa’s new works range from 200mm to over 2M tall. Evolving from 'Bush Markers', these mixed media works include a hand-carved inner, strengthened with reinforcing steel and layered with silicon fibre sheets and cement mixed with resin. Draping silicon cord or fine stainless-steel ribbon are added to suggest the bursting forth of new life. Acrylic paint, and then heavy layers of dripping marine resin, are applied to both protect and provide an unmistakable lusciousness. While the often-vivid colours Lisa uses feel somewhat fantastical, she reminds us that they are found in nature in flowers, leaves, and on a smaller scale, in fungi.

With the current uncertainty and risks posed by Omicron, it seems an appropriate time for our 'Frolic' exhibition, especially given the larger works are being shown outside. We have decided to open this exhibition by appointment. Visitors will be able to safely view the larger exhibition works in our front and rear sculpture gardens, and also the smaller ones on show in the gallery hallway. The private areas of our home will remain closed to visitors until the situation improves. We also ask that you bring a mask and your vaccine passport.

We look forward to sharing these amazing works with you!