{{short description|New Zealand toast artist (1957–2016)}} {{Use dmy dates|date=January 2023}} {{Use New Zealand English|date=January 2023}}
{{Infobox artist | name = | image = MauriceBennett03.JPG | alt = | caption = Bennett, 2010 | birth_date = {{Birth date|1957|04|25|df=y}} | birth_place = Paeroa, New Zealand | death_date = {{Death date and age|2016|06|06|1957|04|25|df=y}} | death_place = Wellington, New Zealand | resting_place = | education = | known_for = Toast mosaic artworks | notable_works = | spouse = {{Marriage|Carolyn Bennett|1987}} | children = 2 | awards = <!-- {{awd|award|year|title|role|name}} (optional) --> | website = {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230124042146/https://mauricebennett.co.nz/toast-art/|date=24 January 2023 |title=Official website}} }}
'''Maurice''' "'''Toastman'''" '''Bennett''' (25 April 1957 – 6 June 2016) was a New Zealand artist who used toast as an artistic medium. Beginning in 2000, his billboard-sized toast mosaic images of well-known personalities including Marilyn Monroe, Elvis Presley, Jonah Lomu, the ''Mona Lisa'', Dame Edna and Barack Obama, were exhibited widely and received a great deal of media interest in New Zealand and internationally. From 2000 to 2005, he held the world record for the largest toast portrait, and he also held the world record for the largest portrait made out of candy for a portrait of Eminem in M&M's.
Bennett developed cancer in 2000, shortly after he began experimenting with toast artworks, and although given a prognosis of 5 years to live, survived for 16 years. In addition to his artwork he and his wife ran a supermarket and a brewery in Wellington, until he became a full-time artist in 2009. He died at his home in Island Bay, Wellington, at age 59.
==Early life and career== Bennett was born on 25 April 1957 in Paeroa, New Zealand. He attended high school in Whakatāne, completed a certificate in civil engineering at Auckland Technical Institute and began (but did not complete) a bachelor of architecture at Auckland University.<ref name="Manson">{{cite news |last1=Manson |first1=Bess |title=Life Story: Maurice Bennett's artwork was the toast of the town |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/entertainment/arts/80816431/life-story-maurice-bennetts-artwork-was-the-toast-of-the-town |access-date=11 January 2023 |work=Stuff |date=8 June 2016}}</ref> He married his wife Carolyn in 1987, having met her while working at a supermarket, and they had two daughters. Outside of his artwork, he and his wife ran a New World supermarket in Island Bay, Wellington, and (from 2004) a brewing company, and he became a fulltime artist in 2009.<ref name="Manson"/><ref name="Broud">{{cite news |last1=Broud |title=Toastman talks about living with the big C |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/1387961/Toastman-talks-about-living-with-the-big-C |access-date=11 January 2023 |work=The Dominion Post |date=1 February 2009}}</ref> He was a collector of New Zealand ceramics,<ref>{{cite news |last1=Jacobsen |first1=Julie |title=Nostalgic for crockery |url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/338279816 |access-date=11 January 2023 |work=The Dominion Post |date=2 February 2006 |page=D2|id={{ProQuest|338279816}} }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Allen |first1=Sue |title=Raising a toast to Wellington's own beer |url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/338060683 |access-date=11 January 2023 |work=The Dominion Post |date=9 March 2004 |page=C2|id={{ProQuest|338060683}} }}</ref> and curated an exhibition of ceramics called ''Tectonic Clay'' at a Wellington gallery in 2014.<ref>{{cite news |title=Today |url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/1558457230 |access-date=12 January 2023 |work=The Dominion Post |date=1 September 2014 |page=A11| id={{ProQuest|1558457230}} }}</ref>
Bennett's early artwork was conventional painting, sculpture and installation art.<ref name="Manson"/> The 1998 New Zealand Fringe Festival featured his exhibition ''Burning Desire'', in which he set fire to a pile of miscellaneous objects and exhibited the remains.<ref name="Houlahan">{{cite news |last1=Houlahan |first1=Mike |title=Burning Desire as you eat |url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/314521144 |access-date=11 January 2023 |work=The Evening Post |date=23 February 1998 |page=8|id={{ProQuest|314521144}} }}</ref> He received the festival's "off-the-edge" award for this work.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Houlahan |first1=Mike |title=Festival closes with party and awards |url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/314575413 |access-date=12 January 2023 |work=The Evening Post |date=24 March 1998 |page=14|id={{ProQuest|314575413}} }}</ref> He began working in toast in 1999, experimenting first with a trial 940-slice piece outside his supermarket.<ref name="Manson"/><ref name="O'Connor">{{cite news |last1=O'Connor |first1=Juliet |title=Artist's toast display a hot project |url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/314668314 |access-date=11 January 2023 |work=Evening Post |date=25 October 1999 |page=1|id={{ProQuest|314668314}} }}</ref> He has said he was inspired to make toast artworks during a family barbecue,<ref name="Manson"/><ref name="Hunt">{{cite news |last1=Hunt |first1=Tom |title=Wellington's 'Toastman' Maurice Bennett dies |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/news/80790078/wellingtons-toastman-maurice-bennett-dies |access-date=11 January 2023 |work=The Dominion Post |date=7 June 2016}}</ref> and after seeing a picture in a magazine by Chuck Close that on first glance looked like it was made out of pieces of toast.<ref name="McLean">{{cite news |last1=McLean |first1=Robyn |title=Burning Desire |url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/338236025 |access-date=11 January 2023 |work=The Dominion Post |date=4 August 2006 |page=B7|id={{ProQuest|338236025}} }}</ref><ref name="Battersby">{{cite news |last1=Battersby |first1=Matilda |title=Fresh way for artists to earn their crust |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/art/features/fresh-way-for-artists-to-earn-their-crust-2318099.html |access-date=12 January 2023 |work=The Independent |date=22 July 2011}}</ref><ref name="DeWolf">{{cite news |last1=DeWolf |first1=Christopher |title=Food Art Festival brings 'The Toastman' to Hong Kong |url-status=dead |url=http://www.cnngo.com/hong-kong/toast-man-026129 |access-date=12 January 2023 |work=CNN International |date=3 August 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101017114959/http://www.cnngo.com/hong-kong/toast-man-026129 |archive-date=17 October 2010}}</ref>
==Toast artworks== Bennett created billboard-size images made up of toast in mosaic form. He used computer software to convert photographs into a grid of pixel-like blocks,<ref name="Catherall">{{cite news |last1=Catherall |first1=Sarah |title=Quirky portraits are the toast of Wellington |url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/313984612 |access-date=12 January 2023 |work=Sunday Star-Times |date=24 February 2002 |page=A3|id={{ProQuest|313984612}} }}</ref><ref name="McLean"/><ref name="Welcome">{{cite news |title=A welcome toast to Newtown gallery |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/news/local-papers/the-wellingtonian/812489/A-welcome-toast-to-Newtown-gallery |access-date=11 January 2023 |work=The Dominion Post |date=31 January 2009}}</ref> and would then toast the bread to the correct shade, using either a commercial oven,<ref name="King">{{cite news |title=Toast to the King |url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/354455590 |access-date=11 January 2023 |work=The Courier-Mail |date=14 August 2002 |page=20| id={{ProQuest|354455590}} }}</ref><ref name="Catherall"/> an oxy-acetylene torch,<ref name="Catherall"/><ref name="Welcome">{{cite news |title=A welcome toast to Newtown gallery |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/news/local-papers/the-wellingtonian/812489/A-welcome-toast-to-Newtown-gallery |access-date=11 January 2023 |work=The Dominion Post |date=31 January 2009}}</ref> and even occasionally a household toaster.<ref name="McLean"/> He preferred the Tip Top brand of bread and usually used white bread although said in 2002 that he was experimenting with multi-grain.<ref name="Catherall"/>
His first large artwork, a 2,724-slice mosaic of former Wellington mayor Mark Blumsky created for the 2000 New Zealand Fringe Festival, was destroyed by weather and seagulls after two days; he subsequently used polyurethane to preserve his artworks.<ref name="Manson"/><ref name="O'Connor"/><ref name="grilled">{{cite news |title=Often grilled, now toasted |url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/314720670 |access-date=11 January 2023 |work=The Evening Post |date=21 March 2000 |page=1| id={{ProQuest|314720670}} }}</ref> Blumsky said he was impressed with the work but that he felt the eyebrows were "a bit light".<ref name="grilled"/> It held the world record for the largest toast mosaic until 2005.<ref>{{cite news |title=The Week |url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/338181740 |access-date=11 January 2023 |work=The Dominion Post |date=19 March 2005 |page=B5| id={{ProQuest|338181740}} }}</ref> In 2001 he created a 2,124 slice, {{convert|7.2|m|ft|abbr=on}} tall, portrait of the ''Mona Lisa'', featured on a central Wellington building.<ref name="Catherall"/><ref>{{cite news |last1=Manson |first1=Bess |title=Here's a toast to Mona Lisa |url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/315324445 |access-date=11 January 2023 |work=The Dominion Post |date=18 May 2001 |page=3|id={{ProQuest|315324445}} }}</ref> In 2002 he spent a month creating a 2,378-slice portrait of rugby player Jonah Lomu, displayed at Wellington's Café Brava.<ref name="Catherall"/><ref name="A burning">{{cite news |title=A burning issue |url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/274460377 |access-date=12 January 2023 |work=The Nelson Mail |date=23 February 2002 |page=9| id={{ProQuest|274460377}} }}</ref> Lomu's manager was unhappy about the image, and said Lomu's image was copyrighted; Bennett said in response that "it would be a very dull world if a person can't go out and make or draw a picture of a person".<ref name="Crumbs">{{cite news |title=Crumbs! |url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/337980147 |access-date=11 January 2023 |work=The Dominion Post |date=28 October 2002| id={{ProQuest|337980147}} }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Artist on toast over novel image of Jonah |url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/313699179 |access-date=11 January 2023 |work=Waikato Times |date=21 February 2002 |page=13| id={{ProQuest|313699179}} }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Samson |first1=Alan |title=Artist's toast to Lomu challenged |url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/315392956 |access-date=11 January 2023 |work=The Dominion |date=21 February 2002 |page=3|id={{ProQuest|315392956}} }}</ref> Lomu's manager subsequently consented to the artwork remaining on display.<ref name="A burning"/>
In 2002, he was commissioned by an Australian bread company to create a {{convert|7.35|m|ft|abbr=on}} tall 2,989-slice toast portrait of Dame Edna, exhibited on a billboard in La Trobe Street in Melbourne.<ref name="Manson"/><ref name="McLean"/><ref name="Crumbs"/><ref>{{cite news |last1=Williams |first1=Nadine |title=Toast of the town |url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/356028363 |access-date=11 January 2023 |work=The Advertiser |date=28 August 2002 |location=Adelaide |page=20|id={{ProQuest|356028363}} }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Lloyd-McDonald |first1=Holly |title=Artist pops up to toast our Edna |url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/360423604 |access-date=11 January 2023 |work=Herald Sun |date=28 October 2002 |page=5|id={{ProQuest|360423604}} }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Edna's toast of the town |url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/358875041 |access-date=12 January 2023 |work=The Daily Telegraph |date=28 October 2002 |location=N.S.W. |page=2| id={{ProQuest|358875041}} }}</ref> In the same year he also created a {{convert|5.76|sqm|sqft|abbr=on}} toast portrait of Elvis Presley to mark the 25th anniversary of his death.<ref name="King"/> The portrait of Presley attracted international media interest, and he was featured on CNN, on the BBC and in ''Time'' magazine.<ref name="McLean"/><ref name="DeWolf"/>
In 2003, he created a {{convert|3|m|ft|abbr=on}} square 3,024-slice portrait of then prime minister Helen Clark wearing a fruit bowl for the Edible Arts Festival in Napier.<ref name="Kitchin">{{cite news |last1=Kitchin |first1=Phil |title=PM's portrait gets a nose job |url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/337958041 |access-date=11 January 2023 |work=The Dominion Post |date=26 February 2003 |page=A10|id={{ProQuest|337958041}} }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Carpinter |first1=Bernard |title=Clark is the toast of Hawke's Bay |url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/337890363 |access-date=11 January 2023 |work=The Dominion Post |date=20 February 2003 |page=A7|id={{ProQuest|337890363}} }}</ref> The portrait was vandalised shortly after it was installed, resulting in Bennett agreeing to, as reported by ''The Dominion Post'', "toast a new nose for the portrait".<ref name="Kitchin"/> A 2003 article about Bennett's work in tabloid newspaper ''The Daily Mail'' was headlined, "Forget the Old Masters such as Remburnt, Pain Gogh and Buttercelli ... Meet Michelangeloaf".<ref>{{cite news |title=The Inside Word |url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/337976134 |access-date=11 January 2023 |work=The Dominion Post |date=25 January 2003 |page=A14| id={{ProQuest|337976134}} }}</ref>
In 2010, he created a {{convert|2.4|m|ft|abbr=on}} square 4,234-slice portrait of American president Barack Obama,<ref name="Manson"/><ref name="Bayer">{{cite news |last1=Bayer |first1=Kurt |title=Renowned Wellington artist, The Toastman, dies |url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/renowned-wellington-artist-the-toastman-dies/DMWI6D4GPZMXJFWMGQ73XBTAUQ/ |access-date=12 January 2023 |work=The New Zealand Herald |date=6 June 2016}}</ref> and a 4,204-slice portrait of New Zealand prime minister John Key.<ref>{{cite news |title=Museum Hotel Launch |url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/867638949 |access-date=11 January 2023 |work=Sunday Star-Times |date=14 February 2010 |page=E39| id={{ProQuest|867638949}} }}</ref> The US ambassador, David Huebner, said he believed it to be the first time Obama had been depicted in toast.<ref>{{cite news |title=A toast to the president |url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/609366095 |access-date=12 January 2023 |work=The Dominion Post |date=13 July 2010 |page=A7| id={{ProQuest|609366095}} }}</ref> His portrait of Eminem out of 5,040 M&M's featured in the Guinness Book of World Records as the largest picture made from candy.<ref name="Manson"/><ref name="Bayer"/> His portrait of rugby player Richie McCaw is exhibited at the New Zealand Rugby Museum in Palmerston North.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Blackwell |first1=Adam |title=Give It A Go: A tour through rugby history |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/manawatu-standard/news/300485299/give-it-a-go-a-tour-through-rugby-history |access-date=11 January 2023 |work=Manawatū Standard |date=29 December 2021}}</ref> Bennett's other toast portrait subjects included Marilyn Monroe, rugby player Gareth Edwards and beer critic Michael Jackson.<ref>{{cite news |title=Famous (food) faces |url=https://www.stylist.co.uk/people/famous-food-faces/12424 |access-date=12 January 2023 |work=The Stylist |date=2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Thomas |first1=Rachel |title=Massive Helen Clark portrait found at Wellington dump |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/oddstuff/91327102/massive-helen-clark-portrait-found-at-wellington-dump |access-date=11 January 2023 |work=Stuff |date=7 April 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Rugby legend Gareth Edwards created in toast by Kiwi artist |url=https://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/rugby-legend-gareth-edwards-created-1811691 |access-date=12 January 2023 |work=Wales Online |date=20 September 2011}}</ref>
His work was featured on television shows including ''Ripley's Believe It or Not'' in the United States, ''Amazing Stories'' in Japan, and ''Holmes'' and ''Campbell Live'' in New Zealand.<ref name="Manson"/> It has been exhibited internationally including in Shanghai, Hong Kong and Tokyo.<ref name="Manson"/>
==Later life and death== In later years, Bennett began creating collage works in addition to portraits, including works inspired by Māori carvings and traditional designs.<ref name="Welcome"/> He noted that he found interpreting indigenous art to be more of a challenge than portrait works.<ref name="DeWolf"/>
Bennett was diagnosed with chronic lymphoid leukemia in 2000 and given an estimated 5 years to live.<ref name="Manson"/><ref name="Broud"/> In 2014 he donated a toast artwork titled ''Care, Hope and Love'' to the cancer ward at Wellington Hospital, following an exhibition at Wellington's Deluxe Café.<ref name="Hunt"/><ref>{{cite news |last1=McKee |first1=Hannah |title=Toasty work for cancer ward |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/capital-life/9601462/Toasty-work-for-cancer-ward |access-date=11 January 2023 |work=The Dominion Post |date=13 January 2014}}</ref> He died from his illness on 6 June 2016 at his home in Island Bay, Wellington, with his wife by his side.<ref name="Hunt"/> A memorial service was held at St Mark's Church in Carterton, where Bennett had designed a stained glass window.<ref name="Bayer"/><ref>{{cite news |title=Toast artist dies |url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/1793927840 |access-date=11 January 2023 |work=Bay of Plenty Times |date=7 June 2016 |page=A10| id={{ProQuest|1793927840}} }}</ref>
==Selected exhibitions== * 2014: ''Hope on Toast'', Deluxe Café, Wellington.<ref name="Manson"/> * 2011: ''The Five Greatest Rugby Players of All Time'', part of the ''A Game of Two Halves'' exhibition at the New Zealand Academy of Fine Arts, Wellington.<ref name="Battersby"/><ref name="Duff">{{cite news |last1=Duff |first1=Michelle |title=Wellington artist's rugby player toast art |url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/culture/visual-arts/5485202/Wellington-artists-rugby-player-toast-art |access-date=11 January 2023 |work=The Dominion Post |date=22 August 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Rugby greats get browned off |url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/884943182 |work=Manawatū Standard |date=23 August 2011 |page=6| id={{ProQuest|884943182}} }}</ref> * 2011: Portrait of Marilyn Monroe, Xintiandi, Shanghai.<ref>{{cite news |title=Artist whose career is toast |url=http://www.china.org.cn/arts/2011-07/26/content_23075710.htm |access-date=12 January 2023 |work=China.org.nz |date=26 July 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Marilyn Monroe made of toast |url=https://www.chinadaily.com.cn/photo/2011-07/22/content_12960019.htm |access-date=12 January 2023 |work=China Daily |date=22 July 2011}}</ref> * 2010: ''Toast Art Picasso'', K11 Art Mall, Hong Kong.<ref name="DeWolf"/><ref>{{cite news |last1=Bennett |first1=Maurice |title=Taking Toast Art To China |url=https://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/CU1007/S00299/taking-toast-art-to-china.htm |access-date=12 January 2023 |work=Scoop Independent News |date=21 July 2010}}</ref> * 2009: ''Just Toasted'', South Coast Gallery, Wellington.<ref>{{cite news |last1=O'Bryne |first1=Bill |title=Preview of Arts |url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/338428404 |access-date=11 January 2023 |work=The Dominion Post |date=7 October 2009 |page=D2|id={{ProQuest|338428404}} }}</ref> * 2006: ''The Toastman'', South Coast Gallery, Wellington.<ref name="McLean"/> * 2002: ''Toast Art'', Café Brava, Wellington.<ref>{{cite news |title=R and R: Your Guide to a Great Weekend |url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/314830143 |access-date=12 January 2023 |work=The Evening Post |date=28 February 2002 |page=17| id={{ProQuest|314830143}} }}</ref> * 2001: ''Toast @ Toast'', Toast Bistro Gallery, Wellington.<ref>{{cite news |title=Galleries |url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/314810916 |access-date=12 January 2023 |work=The Evening Post |date=8 November 2001 |page=17| id={{ProQuest|314810916}} }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Napp |first1=Bernie |title=Polly's picks |url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/314767504 |access-date=12 January 2023 |work=The Evening Post |date=7 November 2001 |page=2|id={{ProQuest|314767504}} }}</ref> * 2000: Portrait of Mark Blumsky, New Zealand Fringe Festival, Wellington.<ref name="grilled"/> * 1998: ''Burning Desire'', New Zealand Fringe Festival, Wellington.<ref name="McLean"/><ref name="Houlahan"/>
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== * {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230124042146/https://mauricebennett.co.nz/toast-art/|date=24 January 2023 |title=Official website}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Bennett, Maurice}} Category:1957 births Category:2016 deaths Category:People from Paeroa Category:Auckland University of Technology alumni Category:Mosaic artists Category:20th-century New Zealand male artists Category:21st-century New Zealand male artists Category:New Zealand installation artists Category:20th-century New Zealand businesspeople Category:21st-century New Zealand businesspeople Category:New Zealand businesspeople in retailing Category:New Zealand brewers Category:Deaths from chronic lymphocytic leukemia Category:Deaths from leukemia in New Zealand