Peter Lange Explained

Peter Lange
Birth Name:	Peter Reid Lange
Birth Date:	6 September 1944
Birth Place:	Ōtāhuhu, New Zealand
Children:	3
Relatives:	David Lange (brother)
Field:	Ceramics

Peter Reid Lange (born 6 September 1944) is a New Zealand ceramicist.^[1]

Biography

Lange was one of twins (the other a girl) born to Phoebe Fysh Lange (née Reid) and Eric Roy Lange, a medical practitioner, in Ōtāhuhu on 6 September 1944.^{[2] [3]} His older brother was David Lange, who served as the prime minister of New Zealand from 1984 to 1989.^[4]

Since the 1980s, Lange has been a leading figure in the New Zealand ceramics and pottery scene.^[5] As Dan Chapell writes: "In the case of his brick sculptures, there's a surprising sense of lightness and 'user-friendliness' that belies the material he's used".^[6] Alistar Carruthers states of Lange: "He is a risk-taker with an ability to engage people in the ideas he works with in his practice. His wit and imagination are always manifest in his work."^[7]

He was married to Rosemary Lange, and has three children.

Recognition

In the 2016 New Year Honours, Lange was appointed a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to ceramic arts.^[8]

Lange's work is in the collections of the Auckland War Memorial Museum, Christchurch Art Gallery, Beehive (New Zealand), Suzhou School of Art in China, and the Aberystwyth Arts Centre in Wales.^[7]

• 2006 Winner of the Premier Award in Portage Ceramic Awards^[6]
• 2005 Recipient of the Creative New Zealand Craft/Object Art Fellowship.^[7]
• 1997-2008 Director of Auckland Studio Potters Teaching Association^[5]
• 1986 Merit Award Winner, Fletcher Challenge Ceramics Awards^[7]
• 1984 Merit Award Winner, Fletcher Challenge International Awards^[6]

Selected works

• 2013 Tahuri, Three large kumara installed in Mt Eden village.^[1]
• 2012 Reading Room Objectspace Auckland^[9]
• 2011 Tokens from the Game Public sculptures installed in Todd Triangle, New Lynn, West Auckland.^[6]
• 2011 Brick, public sculpture installed in New Lynn, West Auckland.
• 2002 Anagama the world's first floating brick boat which took her maiden voyage in Auckland viaduct Basin.^[5]
• 2009 Sculpture on the Peninsular, Banks Peninsular^[10]
• 1996 Peter Lange, McDougall Gallery, Christchurch
• 1995 Five Hard Pieces, McDougall Art Gallery, Christchurch
• 1989 Figuring Out The Land, RKS Art, Auckland
• 1989 Lucky 13, The Dowse Art Museum Lower Hutt
• 1980s 'Release Mandela' mug, set of 300

Notes and References

1. Web site: Peter Lange Ceramic Artist. https://web.archive.org/web/20150113035750/http://peterlange.co.nz/Peter%20Lange%20Website/Home.html. Peter Lange. 30 January 2015. 13 January 2015 .
2. Web site: Lange, Peter . Find New Zealand Artists . 24 December 2023.
3. News: Births . 8 September 1944 . . 81 . 24993 . 1 . 24 December 2023 . PapersPast.
4. News: New Year Honours: Peter Lange - a long way from polishing the Queen's spoons . Shane . Cowlishaw . 30 December 2015 . . 24 December 2023.
5. News: Herrick. Linda. Grant helps Lange push career in unorthodox directions. The New Zealand Herald. 27 July 2005.
6. News: Chappel. Dan. Humour of a sculptural kind. 30 January 2015. Art Zone.
7. Web site: Peter lange awarded New Zealand Craft/Object Art Fellowship. Creative New Zealand. 30 January 2015. https://archive.today/20150130005636/http://www.creativenz.govt.nz/en/news/peter-lange-awarded-creative-new-zealand-craft-object-art-fellowship. 30 January 2015. dead.
8. Web site: New Year honours list 2016 . 31 December 2015 . Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet . 16 January 2018.
9. Web site: Reading Room. Objectspace. 30 January 2015.
10. News: Moore. Chris. Peninsular Inspirations. Christchurch Press. 2009.