Spanning the 1970s to the 1930s (Shepherd insists upon this reverse chronology), the works in ‘The Early Years’ are attributed not only to an earlier incarnation of ‘Michael Shepherd’ but to Hannah Annaline Milton (1908-87) and Deighton Huntleigh (1912-79).  Shepherds works are given clarity and context by comparison and contrast to works by these two legendary New Zealand Modernists. The Early Years allows viewers a chance to separate fact from fiction in the Great New Zealand Modernist Story, shedding light on the careers of these three New Zealand Modernists.

The artist will present a gallery floor talk in late January 2006 on these intriguing and paradoxical works – his home and paintings were recently featured in New Zealand Home & Entertaining Magazine. August/September 2005 issue.