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ABOUT ANNA
I love to make social commentary through my art, and it’s usually with a satirical edge. My life is spent with an old-fashioned ink pen in hand, clay under my fingernails and a mind whirling with possibilities of future collaborations in faraway lands.
I established an international reputation after many years illustrating for The New York Times, The Wall St Journal and The Australian. In New Zealand my work for The New Zealand Herald, The Listener, Cuisine and Metro has been recognised by the New Zealand Media Awards - I am the five-time winner of the Qantas/Canon Editorial Artist of the Year.
As the opportunities for editorial illustration in print media became fewer and fewer, and with creative energy to burn, I started playing with clay. With little technical expertise I became a sculptor. It was only later that I thought to illustrate the shapes I was making.
I live in Titirangi, a beautiful bush wonderland on the edge of Auckland’s Manukau Harbour, a quiet place where thoughts, like rock oysters and mussels, are easily gathered.
My partner, two children and furry companion are now well used to my journeys away, and are probably happy to see me go after the months of obsessive researching that precedes each artistic adventure. You can read about my Varanasi and Ahmedabad collaborations here.
From October 2017- January 2018 I was in Varanasi, India collaborating with embroiderers. I returned to India for two months in December 2019 to collaborate with wood block carvers and natural dye fabric printers in Ahmedabad, once again creating social commentary. Pah Homestead Gallery, Auckland, and Hastings Public Art Gallery have both held exhibitions of this work.
AWARDS
Five-time winner of the New Zealand Qantas/Canon Editorial
Artist of the Year Award in 2007, 2010, 2011, 2013 and
2014 and three-time finalist in 2012, 2016 and 2017.
Finalist in the New Zealand Portage Ceramic Awards in 2011
and 2014.
My work is collected by the New Zealand Turnbull Library
Cartoon Archives and by many the country's politicians and
public figures.
Recipient of an Asia New Zealand Foundation artist residency in Varanasi, India from September - December 2017, with further support from The James Wallace Trust.
EXHIBITIONS
‘Waywardworks’ A retrospective exhibition of my original and in print cartoons, illustrations and caricatures at Te Uru Public Art Gallery, Titirangi, Auckland, 6 March – 23 May 2021
Facilitated and curated ‘Still Life with Moving Parts’ an exhibition of paintings and sculpture by intellectually challenged adults from A Supported Life at The Hastings City Art Gallery, Hastings, February – May 2021
'Artist in Residence Ceramic Exhibition' I was the Artist in Residence at Auckland Studio Potters for the months of September, October and November 2020. In their inhouse gallery I held an exhibition of my ceramic sculptures created during the residency, December 2020
Facilitated and curated ‘Still Life with Moving Parts’ an exhibition of abstract paintings by intellectually challenged adults from A Supported Life at The James Wallace Pah Homestead Gallery, Auckland, March – May 2020
‘Ragpicker at 4am’ Indian social commentary through embroidery, woodblocks and wood blocked fabrics, Hastings Public Art Gallery, Hawke’s Bay, March - June 2020
‘Ragpicker at 4am’ Indian social commentary through embroidery and wood blocked fabrics, James Wallace Pah Gallery, Morrinsville 2019
‘Ragpicker at 4am’ Indian social commentary through Embroidery and wood blocked fabrics, James Wallace Pah Gallery, Auckland 2018
Facilitated and curated ‘The Man who Mistook a Picasso for his Pot’ an exhibition of ceramic work by intellectually challenged adults from A Supported Life, Lopdell House Gallery, Auckland. November/December 2016
Facilitated and curated ‘Outside the Frame’ an exhibition of paintings and ceramics by intellectually challenged adults from A Supported Life, 249 Gallery, Auckland September 2016
‘Splitting Image’ Cartoon exhibition at Lot23 Gallery, Auckland Sept/Oct 2015
‘Cartoons and Caricatures’ Rise Gallery, Wellington November 2013
‘Satirical Illustrations at Laughable Prices’ Letham Gallery, Auckland July/August 2013
‘Satirical Illustrations at Laughable Prices’ Lopdell House Gallery, Auckland, May 2012
‘Satirical Illustrations’ Minnie Street Studios, Auckland, December 2011
‘New Ceramic Work’ Satellite Gallery, Auckland November 2010
‘Anna Crichton Cartoons’ Artoasis Gallery, Titirangi, Auckland, July/August 2009
COMMISSIONS
If you need a witty illustration, cartoon or caricature for your publication or business just let me know. All my illustrative work is drawn completely by hand with an old-fashioned ink pen and then ink coloured onto high quality watercolour paper.
How I work is – you contact me via this site and explain what you need, what your deadline is, your budget, whether you wish me come up with a concept (which is what I really love to do) - I will then fire you off a rough pencilled idea and composition, then hopefully we will have a meeting of minds and agree on an outcome.
I would then send you a high res tiff or jpeg file of the illustration and if you wished to buy the original artwork on paper as well I can courier it to you.
If you are a print or online publication you most likely will provide me with some copy, and I will interpret the words into a pertinent entertaining image.
