Michael O’Kane: Chronological record of practice, 2026
Contact details:
41 Glendining Ave., Dunedin.
Mobile: 64 27 265 9676, email: mike.okane@hispeak.co.nz
Age: 71.
Background, and formal art education
I have worked as an electrical technician, both in New Zealand and Australia.
I studied ceramics and drawing through the Otago Polytechnic’s excellent evening classes in the early 1990’s, then in 1994 I relocated to Nelson and enrolled as a full time art student in their Visual Arts program. In 1995 I transferred to the Fine Arts degree program at Otago Polytechnic, and majored in sculpture. I graduated in 1997. One highlight was my time as an exchange student to the Canberra School of Art at the Australian National University for the first half of 1997.
1997 BFA (with the Sculpture Prize), Otago Polytechnic School of Art
Other art/design involvement/tutoring
2002-14 Otago Sculpture Trust founding board member and treasurer. Involved with Otago Sculpture Trails booklets, successful grant applications, and website content.
2011 I ran a DPAG workshop linked to the Ralph Hotere , Bill Culbert exhibition
2001-03 Part-time lecturer, Design Degree (Materials Exploration-Plastics) Otago Polytechnic
1998-99 Relief tutor for Peter Nicholls, Sculpture Dept., Otago Polytechnic School of Art
1999 Tutor assisting Bill Ryall, Oamaru stone carving course, in Oamaru.
Solo Exhibitions
2026 Public art work, Mercy Falls Like Gentle Rain. A sound based work housed in the Peter Nicholl’s Sculpture plinth, on the Knox Church lawn, Dunedin North
2012- 2022, a period of exhibiting photographic works
2022 Changing Circumstances- Moray Gallery (Dunedin), Photospace Gallery (Wellington)
2019 Just Playing- Millennium Gallery (Blenheim)
2018 Just Playing- Forrester Gallery (Oamaru)
2017 Just Playing, (augmented series)- Rob Piggott Gallery Dunedin), Eastern Southland Gallery (Gore) Photospace Gallery, OCTA Gallery (Cromwell)
2013 On Assignment- McAtamney Gallery (Geraldine), Inge Doesburg Gallery (Dunedin)
2012 Billboard Sixty Special, 6m x 3m billboard Andersons Bay Rd (Dunedin), in Fringe Festival
2012 On Assignment – Photospace Gallery ( Wellington), Forrester Gallery (Oamaru), Eastern Southland Gallery (Gore)
2002 All Together, (sculpture works, and Roadside Cassette Tapes, a visual and audible record). Ward 48 gallery, Dunedin
Group Exhibitions
2024 Legacy Issues, Ashburton Art Gallery Photography and other media.
2018 Armistice Exhibition, (featuring the work of the late Stephen Mulqeen).
2018 Just Playing, with Clare Martin, M16 Gallery Canberra.
2014 Olveston, public sculpture exhibition in the grounds.
2012 `On Assignment, Guest Artist at Suter Art Society Autumn Exhibition, Nelson.
2010 ‘Chindogu’ (a sculpture work-from 2009) – Fringe Festival Event at Dunedin Settlers Museum.
2009 ‘Chindogu’ (two sculpture works-from pre 2003) — Fringe Festival event at Dunedin Public Art Gallery.
My interrupted years.
After a medical setback in 2003, I needed a long and slow recovery. Thankfully I was able to reinvigorate myself and my art practice using photographic media, and had successful exhibitions from 2012.
2003 Portable Swap Show: Blue Oyster Gallery Dunedin, Enjoy Project Wellington, and High Street Project Christchurch (Roadside Cassette Tapes).
2002 Piped Music: Physics Room programme October – November. Christchurch (Roadside Cassette Tapes).
2001 Cleveland Art Awards, Dunedin (also I998, 1999 and 2000).
2001 XXX, Lightbox artist run space, Auckland. February. Sculpture.
1999 Oamaru stone group exhibition Forrester Gallery, Oamaru.
1999 The End (with Bill Ryall). Virtual Tart internet art exhibition site.
1997 Cleveland Art awards- sculpture.
Works held in regional gallery collections
Eastern Southland Gallery, Gore.
Forrester Gallery, Oamaru.
Public art projects and performance work:
2026 Public art work, Mercy Falls Like Gentle Rain. A sound based work housed in the Peter Nicholl’s Sculpture Plinth, on the Knox Church lawn, Dunedin North
2012 Billboard Sixty Special, 6m x 3m billboard image, Andersons Bay Rd; Dunedin Fringe Festival.
1997 Temporary Public Art Projects (TPAP), Canberra, with Stephen Hurrell, Artist in Residence at the ANU Canberra School of Art
1996 Sculpture Rescue, Dunedin, a performance event I organised centred on the Marté Szirmay sculpture outside the medical school, highlighting poor maintenance policies related to public art.
Grants and Awards
2012 Grant for billboard artwork, Dunedin Fringe Festival
1998 Sculpture Merit Award, Cleveland Art Awards, Dunedin.
1997 Sculpture Prize, Otago Polytechnic School of Art.
1997 Student Sculpture Award, Cleveland Art Awards.
1996 Highly Commended, Photography, Otago University Students Assn. Art Exhibition.
1996 Finalist, Dunedin City public sculpture competition.
Publications
2022 Mike O’Kane: Photowork 2011 – 2022. Self-published booklet.
2016 Corpus blog. https://corpus.nz/concerning-anxiety-art-meets-neuroscience/#more 2277 A conversation between Brian Hyland, neuroscientist, and Mike O’Kane, artist.
Reviews and images
2022 Changing Circumstances, Harry Barltle. Gallery News, Wellington Regional News.
2022 Changing Circumstances, James Dignan, Art Seen, Otago Daily Times.
2017 Just Playing, (augmented) James Dignan, Art Seen, Otago Daily Times.
2013 Just Playing, James Dignan, Art Seen, Otago Daily Times.
2013 Just Playing, Johnathon Chilton-Towle, The Star.
2012 On Assignment Julie Jopp, Art Seen Oamaru, Otago Daily Times.
2012 On Assignment James Dignan, Art Seen, Otago Daily Times.
2012 Billboard 60 Special, Nigel Benson, Otago Daily Times.
2012 Capital Times (Wellington), March 22nd.
2009 The Star newspaper, Mar 12th.
2002 Otago Daily Times, Oct 3rd.
1999 Deep South, (www. otago. ac.nz/Deep South) Summer issue. University of Otago.
1998 Deep South, Winter issue.
1997 Deep South, Spring issue.
1996 Monica: reviews art/ art praxis (Aug-Sept issue)- public art performance.
1996 Otago Daily Times (7 June, 26 July).