The Fine Arts Library has recently received copies of A Micronaut in the Wide World: The Imaginative Life and Times of Graham Percy (O'Brien, 2011).
This beautifully produced biography written by Gregory O'Brien and published by Auckland University Press, details the life and works of Graham Percy (1938-2008) a New Zealand born, Elam trained illustrator and typographer.
Percy attended Elam between 1956 and 1959, graduating with a Diploma in Fine Arts, Honours in Design. The School purchased two works by him from the 1958 student exhibition. These works which are included below are held in the Elam Archive, which is housed at the Fine Arts Library.
The Fine Arts Library also holds two examples of his book illustration within the New Zealand Illustrators Collection (Dell & Adsett, 1963; John & Lee, 1964). In addition, the IKON Gallery File includes ephemera designed by Percy from the mid-1960s.
This book has been published to coincide with an exhibition of Percy's works to be held at the Gus Fisher Gallery in May of this year.
References:
Adsett, D. (1963). A magpie sings: Wellington : Price Milburn, c1963.
Lee, J. A. (1964). Shiner Slattery: Auckland, N.Z. : Collins, 1964.
O'Brien, G. (2011). A micronaut in the wide world : the imaginative life and times of Graham Percy: Auckland, N.Z. : Auckland University Press, 2011.
Victoria Passau
Fine Arts Library