Allen Maddox
Born1948
Liverpool
Died2000
Napier
Nationality New Zealand
EducationSchool of Fine Arts, Canterbury University
MovementAbstract expressionism

Allen Maddox (born Liverpool, 1948 - died Auckland, 23 August 2000) was an English-born New Zealand painter, known for his bold abstract works and specifically his use of the cross motif.

Born in Liverpool, Maddox migrated to New Zealand in 1963 with his family.[1] He studied painting briefly at the School of Fine Arts at Canterbury University before dropping out to pursue an advertising career.[2] Maddox had his first solo dealer show at the Elva Bett Gallery in Wellington in 1973.[3]

Maddox was often paired with fellow artists and good friends Philip Clairmont and Tony Fomison, a grouping known as the 'Militant Artists Union'.[2][4] All three were known for their bohemian lifestyles, expressionist painting style and heavy use of alcohol and drugs.[4] A certain amount of mythology built up around the artists' friendships and lives. As Richard McWhannell wrote in his obituary of Maddox,

The name Allen Maddox is associated with much myth and speculation. Most is hearsay and by nature erroneous. It's fair to say he was no regular chap. He suffered from a psychological illness described as schizophrenia and his psychosis was mostly controlled by medication. However the drugs were very strong and there were times when he wanted to be free of their debilitating side effects. And so there were the occasional spectacular incidents when the controls weren't there or weren't enough. Yes there were times when he went 'off ' and in his words, did 'some terrible things'. Those regrettable things were to seriously stigmatise him. Part cause, I believe, that he was never given a solo public exhibition, nor has been properly represented by certain public collections.[1]

Maddox was best known for his use of a cross/X motif in his work, said to have emerged when he emphatically crossed out a failed work in 1976.[5] Art historian William McAloon described the motif as 'something of a self-portrait', referring to the regularity with which the artist returned to it.[2] The motif has been interpreted in all manner of ways, including as "a symbol of anonymity, failure, Christianity, the unknown, the illiterate".[6]

Maddox died in Napier in 2000, aged 51. A memorial exhibition was organised by City Gallery Wellington.[5] Curators Gregory O'Brien and Rebecca Wilson described his work as "probably the most thorough and impassioned instance of abstract expressionist art yet produced in this country."[5]

Maddox's works are held in public collections across New Zealand, including the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa, Auckland Art Gallery, the Sarjeant Art Gallery and Christchurch Art Gallery.[7][8][9][10]

Further reading

  • William McAloon, Wild Boys, review of Militant Artists Reunion, 15 January 2005

References

  1. 1 2 McWhannell, Richard (Summer 2001). "Allen Maddox 1948 - 2000". Art New Zealand (97). Retrieved 11 February 2018.
  2. 1 2 3 McAloon, William. "Allen Maddox - Purple Triptych". Te Papa. Retrieved 11 February 2018.
  3. ↑ Hutchinson, Alice. "Allen Maddox: Systems of Disorder : Log 15: The X Issue - A publication from the Physics Room". Physics Room. Retrieved 11 February 2018.
  4. 1 2 Wong, Gilbert (25 August 2000). "Obituary: Allen Maddox". NZ Herald. Retrieved 11 February 2018.
  5. 1 2 3 "Allen Maddox, A Tribute". City Gallery Wellington. Archived from the original on 11 February 2018. Retrieved 11 February 2018.
  6. ↑ Story, Mark (30 August 2010). "Allen Maddox: Paradox of the not yet famous". NZ Herald. Retrieved 11 February 2018.
  7. ↑ "Allen Maddox". Te Papa. Retrieved 11 February 2018.
  8. ↑ "Allen Maddox". Auckland Art Gallery. Retrieved 11 February 2018.
  9. ↑ "Allen Maddox". Sarjeant Art Gallery. Retrieved 11 February 2018.
  10. ↑ "No Mail Today - Allen Maddox". Christchurch Art Gallery. Retrieved 11 February 2018.


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