Peter McKay

Recent Work 

Peter McKay is one of New Zealand’s foremost jewellery artists. He exhibits nationally and his intricate work has influenced many young artists working in this field today.

Many of his pieces, such as his Heart series, are like small wall sculptures, telling stories in an intricate manner. He explores some of these narratives, of “The Land of the Watchdogs” more fully in a series of drawings which he has made available for the first time as limited edition prints.

In this surreal flight of the imagination, the watchdogs lurk in the shadows, the point of the crescent moon strikes a cross or a boat, releasing wraiths while dancers turn, oblivious, in an elegant tango. All these ideas and figures he somehow captures, like butterflies in a net, within the enfolding heart of a silver and gold brooch only 5-6cm (about 2 inches) in diameter.

For this latest series, he has offered a related print complimentary with each Heart brooch sold, so the story can be told adorning the body or on the wall. However, the beautifully drawn prints are available separately at $200 each unframed, and the Hearts are intended to be presented either as a brooch or a small wall medallion sculpture.

His recent work also includes exquisitely chased birds like the fantail, and feathers where every spine is detailed with utmost delicacy.

More About the Artist 

Peter McKay lives and works in Akaroa on Banks Peninsula near Christchurch. He has exhibited nationally for more than 20 years, and has been prominent in major exhibitions of art jewellery. For many of his works, such as his fantails and sublimely delicate feathers, he uses the rare technique of chasing, to create detail in the sterling silver. All his works are handcrafted, although occasionally the base outline of complex shapes is cast in silver before being chased and handworked in other ways to catch the light and create chiascuro (light and shade) effects. Often his work has art historical references, along with a romantic storytelling.

He first exhibited at The Diversion Gallery at Grove Mill in 2006, alongside his friend and peer, prominent NZ printmaker Barry Cleavin.

Please contact us to confirm current prices: most prices are posted at the time of exhibition, and may be revised as the artists’ values increase.