Keith Morant


Keith Morant, is an international award winning abstract contemporary artist best known for his vibrant, celebratory works in New Zealand and Italy.

Life and work

KEITH MORANT
Born in England, Morant worked and exhibited in London until 1973 when he moved to New Zealand and settled in Christchurch. He has drawn and painted obsessively for as long as he can remember and, while classically trained, has always followed his own path of individual expression.
In 1985 he was awarded the New Zealand Montana National Art Award. However, while he is a Nationalized ‘Kiwi’ and full-time painter, he does not classify himself as a ‘local’ or ‘regional’ artist.
Since the 1980s he has exhibited extensively on the international stage, holding shows in New York, Miami, Toronto, London, Tokyo, Beijing, Melbourne, Istanbul, Valencia, Italy and lately Madrid. He has won many International awards. These included the 2007 Florence Biennale Lorenzo Il Magnifico Award. ‘Premio alla Carriera , the 2008 the ‘Premio Ercole D’Este della Critica award and in 2009 he was honoured at the Premio San Valentino International Art Exhibition with first prize, ‘President of the Republic’s Medal’.
2010 and 2011 saw him honoured with awards for services to art in Ferrara, Italy. In 2013 he received with The `Peoples Choice Award` at an International exhibition held in Bologna and a special citation from the Vajra art project in Nepal.
In 2014 Morant exhibited in Bologna again and held a solo show at Materia Grigia gallery in Venice. In New Zealand he held a special solo show at Eastside gallery of seventy new works in celebration of his seventieth birthday.
Morant is currently exhibiting in U.S.A., Italy, Spain, Canada, Poland, Nepal and Australia.
www.morantart.com
In his statement on art Morant says: “My art is always a journey of discovery into the essence of being. It is an effort to externalise the truth of my own existence on as many levels as possible and communicate a greater awareness of the quality of life. It is an attempt to generate enquiry into the greater spheres of understanding which lie beyond conventionalised intellection. It is my wish that my own work, while initially seen only by the eye, will eventually be perceived by mind, and thus become conducive to some small expansion of human conscious awareness. Art is always an answer awaiting its question”.

Honours

2018: Fo Guang Yuan Art Gallery, Auckland New Zealand. Morant and his wife were once again offered the vast Auckland Buddhist Temple for a major exhibition of paintings and ceramics. This show ran from August 4th to December 31st 2018.
2017: Establishing of the 'Morant Foundation', a legal trust set up by the Morants to benefit arts communities within New Zealand. Two separate exhibitions were staged in Christchurch galleries where over thirty artists could show their works completely free of any charges or commissions.
2017: Major exhibition of over 200 works at Fo Guang Yuan Art Gallery, Christchurch, New Zealand. This International Buddhist organization gave their whole Temple to Morant and his wife for an exhibition lasting five months.
2017: Honored with Artist's residency of one month in Venice by Art And Soul organization. Morant and his wife Patricia were given an apartment and separate studio facilities for the month of April concluding with an exhibition of work done.
2016: Certificate Of Excellence Award. Manhattan Arts International, New York. Exhibition 'Hot Topics'.
2015: Monetary Award. Manhattan International Art, New York. Exhibition "The Healing Power Of Art'.
2014/5: Palm Award. International art. Leipzig, Germany.
2013: Honorary plaque and citation from the Vajra Art Project, Kathmandu, Tibet.
2011: Trevisan Special Award for services to art. Castle Estense, Ferrara, Italy.
2010: Peoples Choice award at 'Little Treasures' Trevisan International Art, Bologna Italy.
2009:
2008: Exhibition: Trevisan International Art 'Traces of Memory', Estense Castle, Ferrara, Italy.
Award: "Premio Internazionale"
2007:
Award: "Manifestation Of The Spirit In Art"
1985:
Montana Lindauer Art Award, New Zealand. Source: Herald, 1 May 1985, p1; Auckland star, 2 May 1985, p 20

Written work