| Betty Curnow | |
| Birth Name: | Betty Jamaux Le Cren |
| Birth Date: | 31 October 1911 |
| Birth Place: | Timaru, New Zealand |
| Death Place: | Geraldine, New Zealand |
| Field: | Painting |
| Relatives: | Wystan Curnow (son) |
Elizabeth Jamaux Curnow (née Le Cren; 31 October 1911 – 24 September 2005), commonly known as Betty Curnow, was a New Zealand artist.
Born in Timaru, New Zealand, Curnow was the daughter of Charles John Le Cren and Daisy Le Cren (née Roberts). Daisy was also an artist, painting watercolours.[1] She married Allen Curnow at St Mary's Church, Timaru, on 26 August 1936.[2] The marriage was dissolved in 1965, but they had a daughter and two sons, one of whom is New Zealand poet and art critic Wystan Curnow.[3] Curnow died in Geraldine, New Zealand, in 2005.[4] [5]
Curnow was a painter and printmaker. She exhibited with the New Zealand Academy of Fine Arts,[6] [7] and 'The Group'[8] in 1964[9]
She is depicted in her close friend Rita Angus' painting, Portrait of Betty Curnow.[10] [11] Curnow and Angus collaborated on the painting, selected clothing and objects that would best symbolise the threads of Curnow's life as a daughter, wife and mother.[12] The work also inspired Louise Henderson's Portrait of Betty Curnow.[13]
Works by Curnow are held in the Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki.
Artist files for Curnow are held at:
Also see: