He posted his Marilyn Monroe piece to Instagram early in March.<\/p>\n
PassepARTout Unconventional Gallery artistic director Elena Ferrari messaged about a week later.<\/p>\n
\u201cI recently came across your work … I was impressed by its originality\u201d, Ferrari wrote.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019d be delighted if you would consider including your work among those selected [for the exhibition].\u201d<\/p>\n
Fergusson said he often received scam messages making similar claims.<\/p>\n
But he investigated further and was \u201cstoked\u201d to learn it was a real offer. <\/p>\n
Fergusson said Monroe remained one of the world\u2019s most recognised faces and continued to inspire artists.<\/p>\n
\u201cShe\u2019s got so many looks and will never die.\u201d <\/p>\n
He said his interpretation was more tragic than glamorous. <\/p>\n
The painting was originally titled The Cost of Hollywood Glamour.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt makes her look like she\u2019s almost bleeding.\u201d<\/p>\n
Fergusson said that direction \u201cjust sort of happened\u201d.<\/p>\n
Anyone who attended art school would probably \u201cclutch their pearls\u201d and take a \u201cdeep breath\u201d hearing his process. Fergusson preferred to let his art \u201cevolve\u201d naturally.<\/p>\n
\u201cI never really have a plan,\u201d he said. <\/p>\n
Bay of Plenty artist Terry Fergusson with his Marilyn Monroe piece, selected for PassepARTout Unconventional Gallery’s 100 Ways to Say Marilyn exhibition.<\/p>\n
There was always \u201ca danger of overworking\u201d a painting, not knowing when to stop.<\/p>\n
He took the Monroe piece out of the house to avoid this. It now hangs at Rain Bar and Kitchen in P\u0101p\u0101moa, where he is based.<\/p>\n
Fergusson said a high-resolution video version would be displayed at the exhibition. <\/p>\n
Getting the artwork to Milan would have cost \u201ca lot\u201d, he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cAs a Kiwi artist, we\u2019re at the bottom of the world … the insurance itself would have killed me.\u201d<\/p>\n
The virtual option meant artists could still be involved internationally.<\/p>\n
His artwork and biography would also feature in the official exhibition programme – a full page dedicated to each artist.<\/p>\n
Fergusson said it was a great opportunity to receive feedback and expose his work to wider audiences.<\/p>\n
Fergusson was a 2016 finalist in the Adam Portraiture Award and won the People\u2019s Choice Award. In 2021, he was a finalist in the Kiingi Tuheitia Portraiture Award.<\/p>\n
He used to live in Rotorua and launched the Bushman\u2019s Son Fund, managed by the Geyser Community Foundation, in 2017 to support emerging artists<\/a> in the district.<\/p>\n For Fergusson, creating art \u201cnever stops\u201d. <\/p>\n He \u201ccan\u2019t wait\u201d to see how other artists have interpreted Monroe for the exhibition.<\/p>\n Ferrari said her selection process focused on artists who could bring a personal interpretation to Monroe through their style, offering \u201ca vision of Marilyn that goes beyond her status as a diva\u201d.<\/p>\n \u201cMy goal was to let the artist\u2019s personal perspective bring out Marilyn\u2019s human side: her strength, her simplicity, and that extraordinary ability to still speak to us today as a woman who faced immense hostility and overcame the adversities life presented her from a very young age. <\/p>\n \u201cMarilyn\u2019s story is one of success, resilience, and pure willpower,\u201d Ferrari said.<\/p>\n All participating artists will be announced on May 16.<\/p>\n