(1883– ).

Artist.

A new biography of McCormack, Thomas Arthur appears in the Dictionary of New Zealand Biography on this site.

Thomas Arthur McCormack was born in Napier on 27 April 1883 and educated at the Marist Brothers' School, Napier. As an artist, he was practically self-taught and his decorative and calligraphic style, reminiscent of Chinese brushwork, has evolved naturally. McCormack has taught at the Technical College, Wellington, Solway College, Masterton, and has given private tuition, but his reputation has been built up as a painter in water-colour rather than as a teacher. He has exhibited extensively in New Zealand and overseas. A comprehensive collection of his work has been acquired by the National Art Gallery, Wellington, and he is represented in all other New Zealand art galleries and in many private collections. A retrospective exhibition was arranged by the New Zealand Academy of Fine Arts in 1959. He was awarded the O.B.E. in 1956.