NATURE, MEMORY, AND THE SPACE BETWEEN
From her coastal studio in Mangawhai, painter Jocelyn Friis creates semi-abstract land and seascapes that blur the boundaries between the physical and emotional landscapes we inhabit.
Working in both acrylic and encaustic, Jocelyn explores the delicate balance between nature’s resilience and vulnerability – echoing the same qualities within ourselves.
Born in Cape Town, South Africa, Jocelyn’s early years were shaped by freedom and an intimate relationship with the outdoors. Days spent riding horses along white beaches and exploring the natural wonders of the peninsula laid the foundation for an art practice grounded in observation, intuition, and wonder.
Since immigrating to New Zealand in 1996, Jocelyn has built an award-winning career as a painter, exhibiting widely across the country, including at the Auckland Art Show and the New Zealand Academy of Fine Arts in Wellington. Her work has also reached international audiences through the UK-based collective ArtCan. A qualified facilitator with Art & Creativity for Healing Inc., she shares her passion through community and online workshops, helping others discover art as a pathway to joy and wellbeing.
Beginning with free, spontaneous marks, Jocelyn shifts between instinct and thoughtful refinement to create balanced, harmonious compositions. Acrylics allow for spontaneous expression, while molten wax in her encaustic works lends a luminous depth and tactile presence. Each piece becomes a meditation on balance – between instinct and intellect, chaos and calm.
Her paintings are an opportunity to find meaning – through a memory, a feeling, or a quiet moment of recognition. Each piece invites pause and reflection, offering a gentle reminder that art and nature can bring peace, hope, and meaning to our lives.
View Jocelyn’s work:
Jocelyn will take part in a joint exhibition, Blur the Boundaries, at Mangawhai Artists Gallery, opening Friday 26 December at 6pm, and running until Thursday 8 January.
Her studio on Jude Road, Mangawhai, is open by appointment and will also feature in the Mangawhai Art Trail in February.
www.jocelynfriisart.com | jocelynfriisart@gmail.com