Elva Bett

Elva Lilian Bett QSM (née Brown, 30 March 1918 – 6 December 2016) was a New Zealand artist, art historian and art gallery director.[1][2][3] Her work is held in the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa.[4]

Elva Bett

QSM
Born
Elva Lilian Brown

(1918-03-30)30 March 1918
Dunedin, New Zealand
Died6 December 2016(2016-12-06) (aged 98)
Paraparaumu, New Zealand
Spouse(s)John James Bett

Biography

Bett was born Elva Lilian Brown in Dunedin, New Zealand, on 30 March 1918, the daughter of Lily May Marion Brown and Herbert Patrick Flowerdew Brown.[3][5] In 1940, she became engaged to John James Bett,[6] and the couple later married. She worked in Wellington as an art gallery director, including at the Centre Gallery. In 1964 she curated an exhibition of women's art at the National Art Gallery, entitled A Room of One's Own: Women in New Zealand Art.[7]

Bett opened a co-owned gallery in Wellington in 1968 with her business partner Catherine Duncan. It was called the Bett-Duncan Gallery and was located in Cuba Street. In 1976, Duncan left and the gallery became the Elva Bett Gallery.[1]

In the 1988 New Year Honours, Bett was awarded the Queen's Service Medal for community service.[8] She died in Paraparaumu on 6 December 2016.[3]

Publications
  • Drawing and Painting: A Complete Study Course for New Zealanders. Wellington: Reed, 1984.[9]
  • New Zealand Art: A Modern Perspective. Auckland: Reed Methuen, 1986.[10]

References
  1. "Art people". www.art-newzealand.com. Retrieved 17 June 2019.
  2. "Elva Bett (oral history interview)". Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa. Retrieved 17 June 2019.
  3. "Bett, Elva". findnzartists.org.nz. Retrieved 17 June 2019.
  4. "Moon and monolith". Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa. Retrieved 17 June 2019.
  5. "Birth search: registration number 1918/12637". Births, deaths & marriages online. Department of Internal Affairs. Retrieved 18 June 2019.
  6. "Engagements". Evening Post. 27 May 1940. p. 14. Retrieved 18 June 2019.
  7. Leggott, Michele (2017). Vanishing Points. Auckland University Press.
  8. "No. 51173". The London Gazette (3rd supplement). 31 December 1987. p. 35.
  9. Bett, Elva (1984). Drawing and painting: a complete study course for New Zealanders. Wellington: Reed. ISBN 9780589014858. OCLC 946523477.
  10. Bett, Elva (1986). New Zealand art: a modern perspective. Auckland: Reed Methuen. ISBN 9780474000638. OCLC 18769836.
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