Gone for a Dip | Tracey Finch

Acrylic on Canvas

Dimensions: 32.5cm x 32.5cm

Framed in natural timber

A pair of empty deck chairs, towels left draped in the sun and no one in sight — Gone for a Dip captures one of those wonderfully familiar moments of a Kiwi summer.

Drawing on Tracey Finch’s fascination with everyday memories, the painting leaves the story deliberately unfinished. The absent figures become part of its charm; we can imagine them somewhere just beyond the frame, cooling off in the water before returning to their spot in the sun. Finch’s bold colour and loose, expressive brushwork bring a contemporary energy to a scene steeped in nostalgia.

Like much of Finch’s work, Gone for a Dip celebrates the ordinary moments that become part of our collective memory — uncomplicated summer days, time outdoors and the simple pleasure of having nowhere else to be.

About Tracey:

Tracey Finch is a contemporary New Zealand artist, creating paintings from vintage photos to tell timeless stories.

Having grown up in NZ, Tracey spent a large part of her adult life in the UK and resettled in Tauranga in 2019 with her family. Earlier collections considered that homecoming and the contrast between her childhood memories, versus the reality of NZ today.

Today, Tracey is building on the theme of nostalgia, while taking a broader view beyond her own immediate, lived experiences. She is interested in the cyclical, generational nature of life. Her work often draws on found amateur photography and everyday moments from the past that continue to resonate with contemporary viewers, even when the memories or moments don’t directly belong to them.

In 2024 Tracey was also part of a small, volunteer team of artists who brought the first BOP Open Studios art trail to life, connecting artists with local art lovers across the Bay of Plenty region. She regularly participates in nationwide and local exhibitions.