A sample of his world-renowned work will be on public display for the first time on the West Coast from Monday.
Weaver left high school in Hokitika to start studying at the Dunedin School of Art on his 17th birthday, before moving on to specialise in ceramics and sculpture.
He found his niche when coming across his grandmother’s old cast-iron press which he modelled his teapot design off.
That started a new direction of work that he could call his own.
‘‘Teapots kind of captivated me fairly early on, and I ... decided to make my own form.’’
Weaver’s work was stumbled upon by Hokitika Museum director Laureen Sadlier and the idea of an exhibition of his functional ceramic art was quickly born.
‘‘It was a very cool revelation that we had a superstar ceramicist on the Coast, so it was just a matter of snapping him up as soon as I could.
‘‘He has had a lot of support from New Zealand collectors that have supported him through his specialised making period.
‘‘I think most collectors of ceramics would have Chris Weaver pieces in their collection. We just wanted to celebrate an internationally recognised artist that has this amazing practice that Hokitika just hasn’t seen.’’
Weaver has had his work exhibited in Japan and elsewhere in New Zealand, but in his home town he has remained relatively unknown.
‘‘I just work away quietly in the studio, and let the work speak for itself,’’ he said.
The exhibition will run through to December. — Janna Sherman
