Liam Downes

Liam is the current Artist in Residence at New Zealand’s iconic national stadium Eden Park. He paints in situ, documenting all the big concerts and sporting events, inc Cold Play, Pink, Ed Sheeran, The FIFA Women’s World Cup, international cricket and rugby.

Liam was crowned Art Battle NZ National Champion in 2022. The LIVE speed painting event has become something of a global phenomenon, across 70+ cities worldwide. After winning the event in 2022 Liam was offered the chance to take the competition to Auckland.
NZ is now part of the world series, as Liam has produced several shows and provided a platform for over 150 established and emerging artists to date.

From the Artist
Express yourself. Life is about the moment. Making our mark helps us to find our place within the moment. The trick is to stay there.

Liam studied at Camberwell College, London and Brighton College of Art and Design. He worked in the design and illustration industry before packing his paint brush and moving to New Zealand in 2001. Wasting no time he set about creating and exhibiting across Auckland and even dabbled in running his own high street art gallery on Waiheke Island. Auckland has become Liam’s spiritual home, while he continues to find inspiration...

Camberwell College of Arts
University of the Arts London
Portsmouth College of Art & Design

EXHIBITIONS

NATIONAL ART MUSEUM OF CHINA
Liam was proud to be one of 20 artists that represented New Zealand at the 8th Beijing International Art Biennale (BIAB) at the National Art Museum. The multi-cultural exhibition then toured across China with a theme of “A colorful world and a shared future”.

NY20+ ART RESIDENCY - Chengdu, China 2024
Exclusive artist in residents exhibition
Exploring the Bashu Culture and Chengdu City

NZ ART SHOW 2022
Wellington, New Zealand

ART IN THE PARK 2021
Liam was one of the 100 established artists invited to the inaugural Art In The Park event, where he created a collection of new works unveiled for the first time.

AUCKLAND ART SHOW 2021/22
Liam will be featuring at The Auckland Art Show with a collection of new works on a large scale. The event is one of the most prestigious affordable art shows in NZ.

DUNEDIN ART SHOW 2021
Liam is excited to be an ‘invited artsist’ at the Dunedin show, with plans to be present and correct at the Christchurch show.

WAITAKERE EXHIBITION 2023
Group show. Good fun.

OPEN STUDIOS WAITAKERE (ANNUAL)
Liam is a featured artist annually at the Open Studios Waitakere 2 day event and is on the art tour bus route - where he showcases his work, his methods and his madnes...