In the 1950s and 60s, Kate Coolahan blazed a trail through New Zealand’s advertising world as a fashion illustrator. Her modish designs seduced men and women alike into buying the latest styles.
But few people today are aware of Coolahan’s contributions to the advertising arena. In New Zealand art circles, she is better known for her prints and paintings, made later in her career.
This exhibition uncovers Coolahan’s ‘other life’, during the Mad Men era of fashion. It features works selected from her personal archive, revealing a talent overdue for recognition.
See works by Kate Coolahan in our collections