Laurence Aberhart

Laurence Aberhart was born in Nelson, New Zealand in 1949 and has been exhibiting photographs since 1975.

Since the mid-1970s, Aberhart has taken his photographs using a century old Korona 8" by 10" view camera. He has become well known for his photographs recording Northland Maori church and marae architecture, exploring both Maori and Pakeha sacred and communal buildings. He has long been fascinated by Masonic Lodge buildings, a series which records these buildings from the far north to southern of New Zealand. Other architectural interiors he photographs are waiting rooms, rest areas, shops, community halls, barber’s shops and hair salons. Moving outside his 'Last Light' series focused on the sea and horizon in subtle emotive photographs with long exposures utilizing the last light of day.

In 2014 a 30year project photographing lone ‘digger’ memorials was formalised with the publication of ANZAC by Victoria University Press and the commencement of an accompanying touring exhibition.

Aberhart received a Fullbright Fellowship in 1987 and a QEII Arts Council of New Zealand Fellowship award in 1993. In 2013 he was awarded a New Zealand Arts Foundation Laureate Award. He has exhibited extensively in New Zealand, Australia and overseas, including a solo exhibition at The Stedelijk Museum in Amsterdam in 2002.

Laurence Aberhart has been showing with Darren Knight Gallery since 1994.