New Zealand artist Liz Maw, whose work is held in private collections alongside the Auckland Art Gallery and Te Papa, relies on a single annual exhibition and a lump-sum payment to fund her living expenses for the rest of the year. In a first-person profile, the 60-year-old Mount Eden tenant described working eight-hour days, five days a week, while managing arthritis, repetitive strain injury (RSI), and the financial volatility of operating as a sole trader.
Maw retains sixty percent of painting sales
Maw has rented her Mount Eden home for 25 years under a landlord who permits her to maintain the garden. Her artistic output consists of one show per year, typically comprising three to five pieces. A large painting generally sells for about $130,000, while smaller works command roughly $30,000. Out of those sales, Maw retains 60% of the proceeds after paying her dealer’s commission, and subsequently pays approximately 30% in tax as a sole trader. She has contributed savings to her KiwiSaver account.
Large paintings require seven months of labor
Creating a large-scale painting takes Maw seven to eight months of focused labor. Her daily schedule begins at 5:30 a.m. with administrative tasks, emails, and yoga poses, followed by studio work from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. To manage arthritis in her thumb and repetitive strain injury, she uses two different hand supports and anti-inflammatory medications. Alongside painting, she builds sound boxes for her band and maintains a disciplined routine despite administrative struggles and difficulties managing day-to-day spending.
Maw overcame school struggles to study art
Maw experienced learning disabilities and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) during her school years, struggling to read a clock until age 15 and frequently facing disciplinary action. She initially viewed artists as “freaks” before winning the fourth form art prize at school. She subsequently studied at Hawke’s Bay Polytech, where she found a community of artists, and later completed studies at Elam after two initial rejections. While working factory and café jobs as a student, she developed a distinctive style that exists outside current fashion trends.
Subject Matter and Career Longevity
Maw’s paintings feature women from her community whom she admires, including musicians Beck Coogan, Clementine and Valentine, and Beth Dawson, alongside a pre-election portrait of Jacinda Ardern. Unmarried and without children, she views her work as the central meaning of her life, securing a brass plate for the back of her 2024 oil on linen piece, The Untitled II, to ensure permanent attribution. She continues to paint with the goal of artistic perpetuity, stating she intends to work until she can no longer do so.
Liz Maw produces three to five works annually
How many works does Liz Maw typically produce for an exhibition?
Maw usually exhibits three to five works per year, consisting of one large piece and several smaller paintings, due to the lengthy time required to complete each canvas to her standards.
What percentage of her art sales does Liz Maw receive?
Maw receives 60% of the sale price for her paintings, with the remaining 40% going to her art dealer, and she pays roughly 30% of her earnings in tax.
Where are Liz Maw’s artworks held?
Her works are featured in private collections as well as public institutions including the Auckland Art Gallery and Te Papa.
What health challenges does the artist manage while painting?
Maw uses two different hand supports and anti-inflammatory medications to manage repetitive strain injury and arthritis in her thumb.
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