Gill Gatfield

Sculptor, Gill Gatfield Studio

Gill Gatfield is a sculptor, author, activist and entrepreneur. She founded Gatfield Studio in 1998, leads multi-disciplinary teams, and creates international award winning sculptures and public artworks that inspire audiences, shift mind-sets and challenge the status quo. Collaborating with arts institutions, foundations, corporates and curators globally, her abstract artworks advance the values of equity, diversity and inclusion through the dynamic media of sculpture in public space. Gill Gatfield’s artwork is presented in international forums in NZ, Australia, USA and Europe, and held in collections worldwide.

With a background in law reform and systems thinking, Gill leads and participates in projects aiming to advance pay equity, equal access and equal opportunities for women and marginalised groups in the arts industry in Aotearoa NZ. She is the author of ‘Inclusive Monuments’, a survey of gender bias in the arts sector, published by NZ feminist art journal, Femisphere 2021. Arts recognition and awards include: sole Juror WomanMade International Open, Artist in Residence KØN Gender Museum Denmark, NZ Women of Influence Finalist for Diversity Leadership and Arts & Culture, Sculpture Fellowship Vermont Studio Centre USA, and CODAworx Creative Revolutionary.

Gill worked in legal practice and public policy as a senior advisor on law reforms impacting the status of women. She founded and led a pioneering consultancy business Equity Works Ltd. (1992-1998) investigating sector-wide systemic discrimination (gender, race, age and disability) and developing diversity strategies for government, professional and private sector organisations. She is author of a landmark text ‘Without Prejudice: Women in the Law’ (Brooker’s 1996, Heritage Collection Title 2011) re-issued in 2018 by Thomson Reuters in response to the global movement #metoo. In 2018, Gill chaired the Women in Law Summit and advised the NZ Law Society Working Group on sexual harassment and bullying. She is patron of the Estuary Arts Centre and advisory board member of Platforms for Good.

Gill Gatfield has Bachelor of Laws and Masters of Fine Arts (Hons) degrees, University of Auckland.