Margaret at her studio in Devonport.
“Margaret Lawlor-Bartlett is an artist whose place in Aotearoa’s art history will be remembered through her bold unmasking of our social history as protest artist, and her introspective explorations of human consciousness, relationships and survival, as seen and expressed, from a woman’s point of view.”
— Julian Harrison, Collection Curator
Margaret Lawlor-Bartlett QSM is an artist who is an outspoken voice on social issues that have shaped our nation's identity over 70 years of change, addressing waves of feminism and institutional patriarchy, tackling the shame of apartheid, and inspiring the Visual Artists Against Nuclear Arms movement (VAANA). Most recently her works touch upon global environmental concerns from the New Zealand perspective.
“I am exploring the ways by which a political art might again emerge in strength to help change people’s thinking, and therefore the course of our living history.”
Auckland-based artist Margaret Lawlor-Bartlett was born 1929 in Wellington; the daughter of renowned journalist and writer Pat Lawlor. She trained as an art specialist teacher, Wellington Teachers' Training College; and studied at Elam from 1950-1953. Margaret was awarded the Elam Rosemary Grice Memorial prize in 1953, but left Elam in protest just prior to her final exams and travelled to Paris. During this period, she was Illustrator for her father Pat Lawlor's `Books and bookmen'.
Margaret trained under Jean Metzinger and Andre Lhote in France from 1953-1957. She then attended St Martin's School of Art, London, 1969-1970. Margaret married the architect Peter Bartlett in 1953. Their six children have regularly featured as models in her paintings. She has been represented in many group and one-woman shows; and her work is in private collections in New Zealand, the USA, Australia, Denmark and France.
Margaret has been recognised for her social/environmental activism. She helped to establish the organisation VAANA (Visual Artists Against Nuclear Arms) in 1984. The VAANA mural from that period (digital replica later produced in 2018), on the corner of Karangahape and Ponsonby roads, exists today as major public art. Margaret worked for the North Shore Women’s Refuge Sculpture Projects from 1994 -2007. She was awarded QSM for her services to the Arts, notably the New Zealand Anti-Nuclear movement.
Biography
Born and brought up in Wellington. Studied at Elam School of Fine Arts full-time
Awarded Elam Rosemary Grice Memorial Prize 1953.
Painted under Metzinger and Lhote, Paris, 1953-1957.
Studied Painting and Life Drawing, St Martin’s School of Art, London 1970.
Mother of six.
Vice-President of the NZ Society of Sculptors and Painters, 1984, 1985 (now in recess).
Tutor at ACC’s Outreach Centre (now Art Station), 1984-1992.
1984 Initiated VAANA (VisualArtistsAgainstNuclearArms) and VAANA Mural, K Rd.
1985 Painted panel of VAANA Mural, Karangahape Road, Auckland.
1990 QEII Arts Council Overseas Grant Artist: Research on Feminist Artists & NZ links.
1991 Illustrated Lecture on James K. Baxter, English Dept., University of Auckland.
1994-2007 Art Assistant, North Shore Womens’ Refuge Sculpture Projects.
2004 Maungauika North Head, Artists’ Project initiator, organizer and participant.
2006 Stage 2 of VAANA Mural: digital replica of original plus new extension. Director, with Project Manager, Nora West and VAANA selector, John Nicol.
Launched Stage 3 of VAANA Mural with Project Managers Hamish Keith & Melanie Roger.
Awarded QSM for services to the NZ Anti-Nuclear Arms Movement via the Arts.
Public unveiling of VAANA Mural 3. Mayor, ex-Governor General Cath Tizard and Mural Director’s speeches. Curator, Peace Show, Gow Langsford Gallery.
Curator, “Peace Auction”, Webbs Auction House.
2012 Curator, Director and Participant in “Peace Paintings, Prints & Poets” project, North Head / Maungauika, Summit Barracks.
Awarded “Cultural Icon” status. Depot Gallery, Devonport.
2014 Survey Show: “Key Works by MLB”, curated by Linda Tyler at the University of Auckland/Christine Fernyhough / Newcomb House.
2015 Celebration show; “Devonport Borough 30 years Nuclear Free” helped organize show with 10 VAANA Peace Prints. Old Council Chamber Rooms, Devonport.
2018 Success after years of negotiation: VAANA Mural digitally reprinted, strengthend and re-erected and now has the status of an Accession Artwork, accepted into the Auckland Council Art Collection.
2020 Eco-project titled Waving not Drowing: The Triumphant Resurrection of the Ruru, consisting of documentary film by Olivia Bartlett and painting and prints in collaboration with mokopuna, and the ceremonial handing over of the painters brush to mark the end of a career of painting.