Allen Maddox

Allen Maddox (1948 – 23 August 2000) was an English-born New Zealand painter, known for his bold abstract works and specifically his use of the cross motif.

Biography

Born in Liverpool, Maddox migrated to New Zealand in 1963 with his family. He studied painting briefly at the School of Fine Arts at Canterbury University before dropping out to pursue an advertising career. Maddox had his first solo dealer show at the Elva Bett Gallery in Wellington in 1973.

Maddox was often paired with fellow artists and good friends Philip Clairmont and Tony Fomison, a grouping known as the 'Militant Artists Union'. All three were known for their bohemian lifestyles, expressionist painting style and heavy use of alcohol and drugs. Art historian William McAloon described the motif as 'something of a self-portrait', referring to the regularity with which the artist returned to it.

Maddox died in Napier in 2000, aged 51. A memorial exhibition was organised by City Gallery Wellington.