Born in Ashburton, Robinson studied sculpture at Ilam School of Fine Arts, Canterbury and currently lives and works in Auckland. Exhibiting in New Zealand and internationally since the 1990s, Robinson has a wide-ranging practice which has explored varied and shifting content throughout his career, reflected in the wide array of materials and techniques employed. His early works are known for their political charge, examining biculturalism and the artist’s own Maori ancestry through issues of identity and ethnicity. In later years his practice has shifted in emphasis toward an exploration of materiality through which ideas are examined and confronted. In large scale sculpture and installations, materials such as polystyrene, felt and steel are employed in industrious ways on monumental scale. Robinson has exhibited extensively overseas, representing New Zealand at the 49th Venice Biennale (2001), the 11th and 18th Biennale of Sydney (1998/2012), and the 23rd Sao Paulo Biennale (1996). Recent solo exhibitions include: Polymer Monoliths, Institute of Modern Art, Brisbane (2009), Polymer Monolith 1, Artspace, Sydney (2009), Snow Ball Blind Time, Govett-Brewster Art Gallery, New Plymouth (2008), ACK, Artspace, Auckland (2006), and The Humours, Dunedin Public Art Gallery, Dunedin (2006). His work has been included in major international touring exhibitions including: Continental shift, Ludwig Forum für Internationale Kunst, Aachen (2000), Toi Toi Toi: three generations of artists from New Zealand, Museum Fridericianum, Kassel (1999), and Cultural safety: contemporary art from New Zealand, Frankfurter Kunstverein, Frankfurt am Main (1995). In 2008 Robinson won the Walter’s Prize for his exhibition ACK at Artspace, Auckland. He is Associate Prof. and Programme Leader, Postgraduate MFA, Elam School of Fine Arts, since 2012.
