“. . . a life spent in colour . . .”
After time spent in New Zealand and Australia, UK-born multimedia artist Max Patté (b.1977) is now based on Spain’s Balearic Island of Mallorca. Training at London’s Wimbledon School of Art from 1997 to 2000, his two-meter-high cast iron statue of a naked man leaning into the elements of Wellington’s harbour – Solace in the Wind, 2008 – is a notable work from his time in New Zealand. Elected an Associate of the Royal Society of British Sculptors in 2008 and heading the sculpting department at Weta Workshop, New Zealand, Patté is known for producing geometric light sculptures, abstracted figurative and cluster arrangements, his work shaped by an immersive exploration of the elemental nature of colour, light and space.
Colours of Home #004, 2025, oil on canvas, 173 × 130.5 cm (MP015)
Courtesy the artist and Kelli Lundberg Art, Victoria
Expanding his practice from his Mallorca studio, the artist’s process-heavy approach balances intention with play; combining digital innovation with tactile craftsmanship, including the translation of ideas into three-dimensional forms via digital printing and CNC milling. With representation across Spain, the UK, and New Zealand – in Palma Mallorca, London, and Queenstown –, in Australia he is represented by Kelli Lundberg Art on Victoria’s Mornington Peninsula – and will be at the gallery this month for the launch of his new show, Colours of Home.
Unfurling #002, 2025, painted stainless steel,
110 × 80 × 30cm, edition of 3 (MP017)
Courtesy the artist and Kelli Lundberg Art, Victoria
Showcasing new paintings, petal and cluster sculptures, and infinity works inspired by Mallorca’s springtime colours, Colours of Home marks a transition to painting for the artist. The sculptural works were inspired by the unfurling of petals – like natural revelations – while his abstract floral paintings embody a sense of whimsy and wonder that is rooted in appreciation for everyday beauty. A vibrant array of hues fill the space, the body of work inspired by a simple gift of sweet pea seeds that blossomed into flowers with pink and heliotrope hues.
Cluster #011a, 2025, painted resin, 43 × 49 × 33cm, edition 2/7 + AP (MP031)
Courtesy the artist and Kelli Lundberg Art, Victoria
Veils, 2025, infinity lightwork, automotive paints, acrylic paints, clear cast acrylic, epoxy resin, clear coat, custom board, 2 way glass, mirror, LEDs, 24v power supply, electrical cable, 240v plug, 110 cm diameter (MP019)
Courtesy the artist and Kelli Lundberg Art, Victoria
With the inspirations of Mallorca’s spring – especially almond blossoms –, a family walk along the lanes that head out to the nearby winery in his hometown, and the experimentation and play of his day-to-day life, Patté says: “Hopefully, some of this playfulness, some of the joy I find through making art and a life spent in colour, finds its way into the work.”
Colours of Home will be held by Kelli Lundberg Art at their exhibiting space: 545 Mornington-Tyabb Road, Moorooduc, in Victoria from 6 November to 7 December 2025.
@maxpatteart
Max Patté’s work is available via Kelli Lundberg Art
Originally published in print – Art Almanac, November 2025 issue, pp. 26–27
