Talk covers inspiration

'Description' (2007), a rust and acrylic on aluminium panels abstract by Auckland artist Stephen Bambury, will hang in his exhibition in Arrowtown. Photo supplied.
'Description' (2007), a rust and acrylic on aluminium panels abstract by Auckland artist Stephen Bambury, will hang in his exhibition in Arrowtown. Photo supplied.
A leading New Zealand contemporary artist will reveal the inspirations behind the works of his 40-year career, in Arrowtown, on Friday.

Abstract artist Stephen Bambury, of Auckland, will discuss before an audience at Dorothy Brown's Cinema, the influences on his work from travel, philosophy, history and architecture.

Bambury and audience will then move next door to the Nadene Milne Gallery for the opening of his exhibition "Then & Now".

The show comprises 10 new screen prints and eight paintings, including a selection of his "classics" from the recent past.

Gallery owner Nadene Milne said it will be Bambury's first solo show in Arrowtown for at least two years.

The artist created "art for architecture". For example, Jack's Point commissioned Bambury to create a black and rust ladder work for its clubhouse entrance in 2009.

"He's very well-read and well-travelled, like many artists of his calibre, and much of his inspiration comes from different cultures," Ms Milne said.

"There is a great marriage between the intense geography of this region and the intense materiality of Bambury's paintings."

• The artist's talk will be held in Dorothy Brown's, on Friday, July 22, at 7pm.

An $8 entry fee is to cover cinema costs and patrons are urged to book on (03) 442-1964. "Then & Now" opens at 7.45pm.