{{Short description|New Zealand artist and writer}} {{Use dmy dates|date=August 2017}} {{Use New Zealand English|date=August 2017}} {{Infobox artist | name = Agnes Wood | image = | image_size = | alt = | caption = | birth_name = Agnes Rosetta Eady | birth_date = {{Birth date|1921|05|26|df=y}} | birth_place = | death_date = {{Death date and age|2013|12|12|1921|05|26|df=y}} | death_place = Auckland, New Zealand | module = {{Infobox person | embed = yes | relatives = Alfred Eady (father) }} | education = | alma_mater = Elam School of Fine Arts | known_for = | notable_works = | style = | movement = | spouse = {{marriage|Edward Phillip Wood|1944|1986|end=d.}} | awards = | elected = }} '''Agnes Rosetta Wood''' (née '''Eady''', 26 May 1921 – 12 December 2013) was a New Zealand artist and writer.<ref name="Legacy">{{Cite web|url=http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/name/agnes-wood-obituary?pid=1000000168511326|title=Agnes Rosetta Wood | date=13 December 2013|website=Legacy.com | accessdate=14 August 2017}}</ref> She is known for her research and writing on the life of fellow New Zealand artist Colin McCahon.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.artrecord.com/index.cfm/artist/374-wood-agnes/|title=Agnes Wood (1921–2013) New Zealand|website=www.artrecord.com | accessdate=14 August 2017}}</ref>
==Early life and family== Born Agnes Rosetta Eady on 26 May 1921, Wood was the daughter of Lewis Alfred Eady, a music retailer, and Agnes Amelia Eady (née Adams).<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.bdmhistoricalrecords.dia.govt.nz/search/search?path=%2FqueryEntry.m%3Ftype%3Ddeaths |title=Death search: registration number 2013/31404 |date= |website=Births, deaths & marriages online |publisher=Department of Internal Affairs |accessdate=14 August 2017}}</ref><ref name="NZ Herald 1944">{{cite news | url=https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/NZH19441204.2.6 | title=Air force wedding | date=4 December 1944 | work=New Zealand Herald | accessdate=14 August 2017 | page=2}}</ref><ref>{{DNZB | title=Eady, Lewis Alfred | first=Fay | last=Hercock | id=4e1 | accessdate=14 August 2016}}</ref> On 2 December 1944, she married Edward Phillip Wood at the Congregational Church in Beresford Street, Auckland.<ref name="NZ Herald 1944"/>
==Career== Wood initially trained and worked as a milliner but later studied at the Elam School of Fine Arts in Auckland, graduating with a master's degree in 1973, aged 52. As a student there she was influenced by her tutors Robert Ellis and Colin McCahon, and her early work explored the structures and patterns of cityscapes.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=http://remuera-gallery.com/agnes-wood/|title=Agnes Wood – artist biography and artworks available to buy|website=Remuera Gallery|accessdate=14 August 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170814140043/http://remuera-gallery.com/agnes-wood/|archive-date=14 August 2017|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.warwickhenderson.co.nz/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/WinterCatalogue2012WEB.pdf|title=Winter catalogue 2012|date=July 2012|publisher=Warwick Henderson Gallery|accessdate=14 August 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170412112105/http://www.warwickhenderson.co.nz/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/WinterCatalogue2012WEB.pdf|archive-date=12 April 2017|url-status=dead}}</ref> Her figurative paintings, which often depict geometrical portraits on abstract backgrounds, frequently feature figures wearing hats, headpieces or simplified floral headbands — a probable result of her previous training in millinery.<ref name=":0" />
In 1997, Wood published ''Colin McCahon: The Man and the Teacher,'' which was based on correspondence and interviews with McCahon.<ref>{{Cite book | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=RLxAAAAACAAJ&q=colin+mccahon+agnes+wood | title=Colin McCahon: The Man and the Teacher|last=Wood|first=Agnes|date=1997|publisher=David Ling|isbn=9780908990450}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://assets.aucklandartgallery.com/assets/media/colin-mccahon-artist-files-inventory.pdf|title=Colin McCahon files|last=|first=|date=|website=Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tamaki|accessdate=14 August 2017|archive-date=25 January 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180125101416/https://assets.aucklandartgallery.com/assets/media/colin-mccahon-artist-files-inventory.pdf|url-status=dead}}</ref>
In 2009, an 88th birthday exhibition of Wood's work was held in Auckland.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.eventfinda.co.nz/2009/may/auckland-central/agnes-wood-88th-birthday-exhibition|title=Agnes Wood 88th birthday exhibition|website=Eventfinda| accessdate=14 August 2017}}</ref> Paintings by Wood are held in the collections of Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki and the University of Auckland.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.aucklandartgallery.com/explore-art-and-ideas/artist/2058/agnes-wood|title=Agnes Wood|work=Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tamaki|accessdate=14 August 2017}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://artcollection.auckland.ac.nz/record/68477|title=Untitled|website=University of Auckland Art Collection|accessdate=14 August 2017}}</ref>
==Death== Wood died in Auckland on 12 December 2013, and her body was cremated at Purewa Crematorium.<ref name="Legacy"/><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.purewa.co.nz/view/?id=136790 |title=Burial & cremation details |publisher=Purewa Cemetery and Crematorium |accessdate=14 August 2017}}</ref>
==References== {{Reflist|30em}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Wood, Agnes}} Category:1921 births Category:2013 deaths Category:Artists from Auckland Category:Writers from Auckland Category:20th-century New Zealand artists Category:Elam School of Fine Arts alumni Category:New Zealand biographers Category:New Zealand women biographers Category:20th-century biographers