Mark Adams (New Zealand photographer)

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Mark Adams was born in 1949 in Christchurch, New Zealand. He is one of New Zealand's most distinguished photographers.

Adams attended the Canterbury University School of Fine Arts from 1967-1970 majoring in graphic design to get access to photography.

I learned bugger all at art school. Tom Palaskas, a fellow student, taught me how to develop film and print. I taught myself how to use cameras. Then I discovered the art schools 4 x 5-inch Linhof plate camera and taught myself how to use that. That changed everything. That was the future. ^[1]

After art school Adams became interested in painting through a long-term friendship with the artist Tony Fomison and later Theo Schoon.

Best known for his work on documenting Samoan tatau (tatooing), Maori-Pakeha interactions around Rotorua, and historic sites around New Zealand, Adam's work has been extensively exhibited within New Zealand as well as Europe, Australia, South Africa. His work has also featured in Brazil's Sao Paulo biennale.^[2]

His work is represented in most of New Zealand's major art institutions including the Auckland Art Gallery, Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa and Christchurch Art Gallery.

Adams lives and teaches photography in Auckland, New Zealand.