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Douglas MacDiarmid

Douglas Kerr MacDiarmid
Douglas MacDiarmid.jpg
Born 14 November 1922
Taihape, New Zealand
Nationality New Zealander
Occupation Painter
Home town Paris, France
Website www.douglasmacdiarmid.com

Douglas Kerr MacDiarmid (born 14 November 1922) is one of New Zealand’s most accomplished expatriate painters, known for his diversity and exceptional use of colour. Involved with key movements in twentieth-century art, he currently lives in Paris, France.

Douglas MacDiarmid was born in Taihape, in the middle of the North Island of New Zealand, the younger son of Dr Gordon Napier MacDiarmid, country general medical practitioner and surgeon, and his wife Mary Frances (née Tolme), a school teacher before her marriage.

He boarded at Huntley Preparatory School, Marton, and Timaru Boys' High School, then studied literature, languages, music and philosophy at Canterbury College, University of New Zealand, Christchurch. His studies were interrupted by World War II military service in the Army and Air Force at home. Although he had no formal art training, he was mentored by older members of The Group, an avant-garde set redefining New Zealand art and culture that he was closely involved with during his Christchurch years from 1940 to 1946.

While his brother Ronald Diarmid MacDiarmid (2 Aug 1920 - 13 Jan 2013; QSM, MB ChB UNZ, MRCGP, FRCGP, FRACGP (Hon), FRNZCGP) followed in his father’s footsteps, becoming a doctor, Douglas left New Zealand after the war in 1946 to find his way as an artist, teaching and painting in London and France. After a year back in New Zealand in 1949-50, he returned to France and has been based there ever since – with homeland exhibitions and regular trips back to New Zealand until recent years.

MacDiarmid has been a full time artist in Paris since 1952 and has continued to paint into his 10th decade. He also writes poetry. Not confined to a style, he creates landscapes, cityscapes, portraits, figures, abstract and semi abstract forms, many inspired by his extensive travels, and has exhibited successfully in France, London, Athens, New York, and Casablanca.

In 1990, he was brought back to New Zealand for the country’s sesquicentennial celebrations, and declared a New Zealand living cultural treasure by the government of the day. His portrait was painted by Jacqueline Fahey at the time for the new New Zealand Portrait Gallery.


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