New Zealand artist Daryn McBride describes his creative practice as being deeply inspired by the beauty, power, and ever-changing nature of the Ocean and Coastal Environment of New Zealand.
His lifelong passion for surfing has given him a unique connection to the ocean and a deep appreciation for the relationship between people and the sea. These experiences shape his artistic vision, influencing the colour, texture, movement, and emotion within his work.
Daryn’s multidisciplinary practice encompasses original acrylic and mixed-media paintings, sculpture, photography, illustration, digital art, and bold statement works. Drawing inspiration from the ocean, surfing, travel, and New Zealand’s natural environment, his work combines bold colour and flowing forms with native vegetation and organic compositions to capture the spirit and energy of nature.
His extensive exploration of New Zealand’s coastlines and landscapes, combined with his roots as a surfer, gives his work an authentic, soulful quality and a distinctly New Zealand perspective. Daryn’s original artworks have been exhibited in galleries nationally and internationally, with photography, illustration, and surfboards often incorporated into his exhibitions.
SELECTED SOLO SHOWS
ART AT THE PORT – The Wool Shed Studio Brasil’s Farm, Port Waikato NZ – 2021
MIHARO GALLERY PRESENTS DARYN MCBRIDE – Miharo Gallery, Gisborne NZ – 2020
FORGET EVERYTHING ENJOY TODAY – Deus Gallery, Canggu, Bali – 2014
LIFE GOES ON – Omanu Surf Club, Mount Maunganui NZ – 2012
UN-OFFICIAL – Zohar Gallery, Mount Maunganui NZ – 2009
ALONE AND DREAMING – Harrisons Art Gallery, Tauranga NZ – 2007
SURFING – Le Mond Gallery, Tauranga NZ – 2003
SELECTED GROUP SHOWS
THE SUMMER ART SHOW – Franklin Arts Centre Gallery, Pukekohe NZ – 2022
THE PATH CELEBRATION – Hastings City Art Gallery, Hastings NZ – 2021
TONY OGLE & DARYN MCBRIDE – Miharo Gallery, Gisborne NZ – 2020
DEUS XMAS COLAB – Deus Gallery, Canggu, Bali – 2014
THE WAY WE SEA, Taranaki Music and Arts Festival, Fitzroy Beach NZ – 2010
NIXON ART MOSH – Auckland NZ – 2009
THE 3 D’s – The Edge Gallery, Aoetea Centre, Auckland NZ 2007
EDUCATION
Dipolma of Fine Arts – Waiariki Technical Institute, Rotorua, NZ – 1996/98
Diploma of Graphic Design – University Of Waikato, Tauranga, NZ – 2008/09
CARRIER HIGHLIGHTS
ARTIST RESIDENCY – Deus Temple of Enthusiasm, Canggu, Bali – 2014
8 week Artists residency at the Deus Temple of Enthusiasm, Bali, including a Solo Exhibition of the artwork I’d created, the show was up for a month in the Temple Gallery in Cangau. I was also asked to be part of the guest shaper program in place at the temple, I shaped a dozen longboards under the collaborative label Daryn Mcbride for Deus, adding my name to a not so long list of very highly regarded Surfboard Shapers from around the globe.
As a bonus, I was also invited to take part in the annual 9ft and Single Invitational Longboard surfing contest, a specialist event where making the list of international invites was a huge honour.
SURFBOARD MANUFACTURING TUTOR – Fu Yong, China – 2010
For 7 weeks in the summer of 2009/10, I was contracted to teach the surfboard manufacturing process by a China based, Australian run Fibreglass and Engineering firm.
Being immersed in the Chinese culture was an amazing experience. While I was offered a permanent contract with the firm, it would’ve meant relocating the family to Hong Kong, it was a tuff decision but in the end I decided I could not take up the contract.
Daryn is also committed to giving back, regularly donating artwork and creative support to environmental and humanitarian initiatives through nonprofit partnerships, exhibitions, and commercial projects.
A long time supporter of the Surfaid Foundation
About
SurfAid’s core mission is to improve the health, well-being and resilience of remote communities connected to us through surfing.
We believe that positive, sustainable and long-lasting change can only be achieved through the active involvement of the locals in the places we work.
SurfAid is committed to a ‘hand up, not a handout’ philosophy, and our focus is on
empowering and supporting local communities to enrich their own lives, and increase their choices and possibilities for realising their own potential.
We strive for lasting improvement in the health, well-being and resilience of remote communities by implementing community-led development programs that are clear in their goals, effective in their implementation and subject to continuous monitoring and evaluation.
For more info about Surfaid or to donate click the link below.
Rosie Cruddas – Former Gallery Director – Mīharo Gallery, Gisborne
In June of 2020 Mīharo Gallery in Gisborne had the pleasure of hosting two exhibitions, the first was a Colaboration featuring the work of Daryn McBride alongside fellow artist Tony Ogle. The second was a solo exhibition, November 2020.
Daryn’s work made a fantastic impact within the gallery. His large-scale pieces, vibrant colour palette and distinctive surf-inspired imagery completely transformed the space. The scale of the works in particular gave them a wonderful presence, standing in front of them was an immersive experience, and collectively they made the entire gallery come alive.
The exhibition also brought a noticeably diverse range of people through the gallery. Daryn’s work had a strong connection with Gisborne’s surf and coastal community and attracted people who may not necessarily have considered themselves traditional gallery-goers, alongside established collectors and our regular clientele.
That ability to connect with such a broad audience was a real strength of the exhibition and created a lively, welcoming atmosphere within the gallery.
Daryn was an absolute pleasure to work with throughout. His work has a strong and immediately recognisable identity, capturing the energy, colour and atmosphere of New Zealand’s coastal and surf culture.
We were very proud to exhibit Daryn’s work at Mīharo Gallery and are more than happy to recommend him and his work.
Rosie Cruddas
Former Gallery Director – Mīharo Gallery, Gisborne
MOVEMBER AMBASADOR – NZ – 2013
Since its humble beginnings in 2003 in Melbourne, Australia, Movember has grown to become a truly global movement. It has inspired more than three million Mo Bros and Mo Sistas to participate across 21 countries worldwide, raising awareness for the often ignored issues of men’s health by prompting conversations wherever they go.
Back in late October 2013 we teamed up with Movember NZ and interviewed iconic New Zealand longboarder Daryn Mcbride about mental health and the ‘Gen Mo’ noserider he shaped to support the Movember campaign.
Daryn gave us some powerful words about overcoming depression and a little insight into his passion for shaping more traditional, heavily glassed boards. The following is the full interview between Jay Reeve and Daryn.
The short video clip we created for Movember along with the crafting of the Gen Mo board can be found on below.
Damaged Goods Magazine, Issue 6, 2013
MOVEMBER AMBASADOR – INTERNATIONAL – 2014
In 2014 Daryn was invited to the Deus Temple of Enthusiasm in Canggu Bali.
The invite was for him to be one of an international field of longboard surfers to compete in the highly respected Deus 9ft & Single longboard contest, followed by an artist residency at the Deus Temple and an exhibition in the temple gallery.
Daryn also was asked to do a stint in the Deus Surfboards shaping bay where he shaped 10 of his popular Utopia model Longboards, along a custom 6’8” channel bottom single fin under as part of the Deus shapers colab programe label, Daryn Mcbride for Deus. The list of shapers to have worked in the shaping bay at the Temple is short, and prestigious, and for Daryn it was the highlight of his creative career.
