Shannon Novak is an emerging artist residing in Auckland, New Zealand, who is devoted to geometric abstraction, using geometric forms to represent his ongoing exploration into the link between sound, colour, and emotion. This exploration had early beginnings when the artist became a pianist at an early age, learning from the classical and modern schools of music and later composing and performing his own works of music. The years spent as a pianist mirrored the years spent as an artist but it has only been of recent that the two paths have crossed over in the form of compelling studies into the link between sound, colour, and emotion. The result has been the development of works that uniquely blend the illusory qualities of black and white, the magnetism of vivid colours, and simplicity of geometric forms.

Education has a prominent place in the artist’s life. He worked as an instructional designer for a number of years designing instruction manuals that incorporated graphical elements such as detailed technical drawings and diagrams translating abstract concepts into easy to understand visuals. On the academic side, the artist was awarded the Master of Education degree with first class honours from Massey University. The experience gained through both his working and academic career has played a significant role in his work. He treats exhibitions as opportunities to provide individuals with ‘learning experiences’ optimised by works that use instantly recognisable shapes and colour.