1. Douglas Kerr MacDiarmid was a New Zealand expatriate painter, known for his diversity and exceptional use of colour, and involved with key movements in twentieth-century art.
12 Facts About Douglas MacDiarmid
1. 2.
Douglas MacDiarmid lived in Paris, France, for most of his career.
3.
Douglas MacDiarmid was born in Taihape, in the middle of the North Island of New Zealand, the younger son of Gordon Napier MacDiarmid, country general medical practitioner and surgeon, and his wife Mary Frances, a schoolteacher before her marriage.
4.
Douglas MacDiarmid was born in his family home upstairs from his father's surgery at 24 Huia Street, Taihape.
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Douglas MacDiarmid boarded at Huntley School in Marton, and Timaru Boys' High School, then studied literature, languages, music and philosophy at Canterbury University College.
6.
Douglas MacDiarmid's studies were interrupted by World War II military service in the army and air force at home.
7.
Douglas MacDiarmid died in Paris on 26 August 2020 at the age of 97.
8.
Douglas MacDiarmid's childhood home is a bed and breakfast called Magpie Manor at 24 Huia Street, Taihape.
9.
In 1990, Douglas MacDiarmid was brought back to New Zealand for the country's sesquicentennial celebrations, and declared a New Zealand living cultural treasure by the government of the day.
10.
Douglas MacDiarmid's portrait was painted by Jacqueline Fahey at the time for the new New Zealand Portrait Gallery.
11.
Douglas MacDiarmid painted the portraits of Rita Angus and Theo Schoon among others.
12.
Douglas MacDiarmid's paintings are owned by French and New Zealand governments, the City of Paris, and public and private collections across the world, including New Zealand, Australia, the United States, France, England, Greece, Switzerland, Morocco, South Africa, China, South America, Korea, and Tahiti, as well as the collection of the late Duke and Duchess of Windsor.