{{short description|New Zealand artist (1905–1976)}} {{Use dmy dates|date=September 2017}} {{Infobox artist | name = Ivy Grace Fife | image = | caption = | birth_name = | birth_date = 1905 | birth_place = Christchurch, New Zealand | death_date = 1976 | death_place = | movement = | awards = | patrons = | field = painting, portrait | training = Canterbury College School of Fine Art | works = 'Peter', 'Big Crate', 'Backyards', 'Sign of the Times T.A.B.' | spouse = Alan Forrester }}

'''Ivy Grace Fife''' (1903–1976), born Ivy Grace Hofmeister,<ref>''Lyttelton Times'', 29 September 1903, page 1.</ref> was a New Zealand painter based in Christchurch and Canterbury. Known for her portraits, her work also includes landscapes and is reflective of life in Canterbury and the South Island of New Zealand.

Working in gouache, oils, watercolours, ink and wash, and pencil, she was influenced by W.A. Sutton and a contemporary of Olivia Spencer Bower and Russell Clark.<ref name=":1" />

== Education == Fife's early education included Elmwood School and Christchurch Girls' High School.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web|url=https://christchurchartgallery.org.nz/media/uploads/2010_08/Ivy-Fife1977.pdf|title=Ivy Fife Retrospective Exhibition 1938–1976|date=1976|access-date=10 September 2017}}</ref> In 1920, Fife enrolled in the Canterbury College School of Fine Art and after graduation continued her association with the school, including as Lecturer in Design, until her retirement in 1959. While at the school she worked with Cecil Kelly, Archibald Nicholl, F. A. Shurrock, Richard Wallwork and Leonard Booth.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=https://christchurchartgallery.org.nz/exhibitions/ivy-fife-retrospective|title=Ivy Fife Retrospective|website=christchurchartgallery.org.nz|access-date=10 September 2017}}</ref>

== Exhibitions == Fife's work has been included in several art society exhibitions at Christchurch, Dunedin, Invercargill and Nelson, as well as the Gallery of the New Zealand Academy in Wellington. In 1958, five of her paintings were included in an exhibition by the Auckland City Art Gallery entitled ''Eight New Zealand Painters'',<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.aucklandartgallery.com/page/eight-new-zealand-painters|title=Eight New Zealand painters|work=Auckland Art Gallery|access-date=10 September 2017|language=en}}</ref> exhibiting alongside W. A. Sutton, Milan Mrkusich, Rita Angus, Clifford Murray, Michael Nicholson, Sydney Thompson, and Dennis Knight Turner. The exhibition toured cities and towns throughout the country and provided public exposure to the New Zealand painters involved.<ref name=":0" /> Fife has been part of several exhibitions at the Christchurch Art Gallery Te Puna o Waiwhetu including: ''One Hundred New Zealand Painters'' (1965); ''A Harbour View'' (1989); ''About Town'' (1995); ''40 out of 40: Canterbury Painters 1958–1998'' (1997–98).<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://christchurchartgallery.org.nz/search?q=ivy+fife&section=exhibitions|title=Search {{!}} Christchurch Art Gallery Te Puna o Waiwhetu|access-date=10 September 2017}}</ref> Although she never had a solo show while alive, in 1977 the McDougall Art Gallery (now Christchurch Art Gallery Te Puna o Waiwhetu) hosted an exhibition of her work entitled ''Ivy Fife Retrospective 1938–1976.''<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.art-newzealand.com/Issues1to40/exhibitions05ch.htm|title=Art New Zealand|website=www.art-newzealand.com|access-date=10 September 2017|archive-date=12 February 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160212034020/http://www.art-newzealand.com/Issues1to40/exhibitions05ch.htm|url-status=dead}}</ref>

== Positions held == Ivy Fife was a member and Council Member of the Canterbury Society of Arts from 1949 to 1966, and a member of the Advisory Committee of the Robert McDougall Art Gallery.<ref name=":0" />

== References == {{reflist}}

== Further reading == Artist files for Ivy Fife are held at: * [http://findnzartists.org.nz/artists/artist-file/11/ Angela Morton Collection, Takapuna Library] * [http://findnzartists.org.nz/artists/artist-file/1/ E. H. McCormick Research Library, Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki] * [http://findnzartists.org.nz/artists/artist-file/2/ Robert and Barbara Stewart Library and Archives, Christchurch Art Gallery Te Puna o Waiwhetu] * [http://findnzartists.org.nz/artists/artist-file/3/ Hocken Collections Uare Taoka o Hākena] * [http://findnzartists.org.nz/artists/artist-file/4/ Te Aka Matua Research Library, Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa]

Also see: * [http://findnzartists.org.nz/artists/publication/9/ Concise Dictionary of New Zealand Artists], McGahey, Kate (2000) Gilt Edge * [https://christchurchartgallery.org.nz/about/library/publications/ivy-fife-retrospective Ivy Fife Retrospective]

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Fife, Ivy}} Category:1903 births Category:1976 deaths Category:20th-century New Zealand women artists Category:New Zealand painters Category:New Zealand women painters Category:University of Canterbury alumni Category:Ilam School of Fine Arts alumni Category:People educated at Christchurch Girls' High School Category:People associated with the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa Category:People associated with the Canterbury Society of Arts Category:Academic staff of the University of Canterbury Category:20th-century women painters