Joie De Vivre

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Avis Higgs: joie de vivre celebrates the work of New Zealand textile designer Avis Higgs. In almost seventy years of creative activity Avis Higgs has made an extraordinary contribution to New Zealand art and design. From her interest in Maori and Polynesian motifs through to the exploration of surf culture, Avis Higgs? works prefigure much of what would happen in later Australian and New Zealand art and design.

Avis Higgs: joie de vivre is an exhibition of samples of her fabric design work, including garments made from her fabric designs, and painted designs on paper from her portfolio. Avis Higgs: joie de vivre is toured by Hawkes Bay Cultural Trust and was curated by Douglas Lloyd Jenkins.

Each of the designs on display in Avis Higgs: joie de vivre were completed in the decade following 1941. Individually they are an engaging expression of period style; collectively they are amongst the most important bodies of work by a New Zealand designer. Today Avis Higgs lives and works in Wellington.