Max Gimblett (b. 1935, Auckland, New Zealand) works as a painter in both New York and New Zealand, after extensive global travels including Europe, India, the United States, and Japan, the latter two he frequently draws upon in his portfolio. Often working on shaped panels or canvases – tondos, ovals, and his signature four-lobed quatrefoil – he marries Abstract Expressionism, Modernism and Spiritual Abstraction with mysticism and traditions of Asian calligraphy.

In the 1960s, Gimblett studied drawing at the Ontario College of art in Toronto and painting at the San Francisco Art Institute and has since traveled, taught and exhibited extensively across the globe. Gimblett’s work is included in major museum collections worldwide, including the Guggenheim Museum, the Museum of Modern Art, the Whitney Museum of American Art, the National Gallery of Art (Washington, DC), the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa, and the Auckland Art Gallery Toi O Tamaki. 

Select solo/two-person exhibitions include Page Gallery, Wellington. "The Legend of the Ceramic Master, The Sun Also Rises, Leaves of Grass, Creation, The Window, The Garden of Delights, 50 Years of Drawing," etc. (2022, 2021, 2020, 2019, 2019, 2017, 2016), Gow Langsford Gallery, Auckland. "The Open Road, The Path of Light, Many Worlds, Sunset Moon, One Day in the Afternoon of the Gods," etc. (2022, 2021, 2019, 2018, 2016), Nadene Milne Gallery, Arrowtown and Christchurch. "The Magical Kingdom, Asia and the Pacific, The River, New Paintings," etc. (2021, 2019, 2017, 2016), Hosfelt Gallery, San Francisco. "Juggernaut" (2020), Christchurch Art Gallery, Christchurch. "Ocean Wheel" (2020), Auckland War Memorial Museum, Auckland, New Zealand. “The Art of Remembrance” (2017), Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa, Wellington. “The Art of Remembrance” (2016), Tauranga Art Gallery, Tauranga, New Zealand. “ The Universe: Max Gimblett” (2016), Kashya Hildebrand, London. “Love Conquers All” (2014), The Village Zendo, New York. “boundless way” (2014), Gary Snyder Gallery, New York. “Max Gimblett—The Holy Grail” (2012), Andy Warhol Museum, Pittsburgh. 

Throughout his career he has been the recipient of several Honors including the Augusta Award (2009), Benefactor of Auckland Art Gallery and Old Boy of the Year Award (2011), Officer of New Zealand Order of Merit, Queen's Birthday Honors (2015), and Honorary Doctorates bestowed by The University of Waikato for contributions as an artist, scholar, teacher and philanthropist (2017) as well as by Auckland University of Technology for outstanding and sustained contribution to the advancement of the arts in New Zealand (2019).