"I had to put a Rita Angus in this selection. The retrospective at Te Papa was such a wonderful show, enough work to really get to know her as a painter. I felt a sense of gratitude that Angus was being publicly appreciated – the Gallery was full of people. It is quite a surprise how you can really see this odd psyche through her work – her compositional sensibility works with what she is saying about the people and place in this piece. I think for someone like Rita Angus, painting was such high stakes – it was her way of connection and realising what she had to offer the community. As a painter, Rita was true to her strengths but also worked weaknesses into the work. There are no guarantees the public will pick up what you have to offer. It could have all been for nothing. But it wasn’t."
- Andrew McLeod, 'My Choice' exhibition series, August 2022

Angus was born in Hastings, Hawkes Bay and returned to the region regularly throughout her career.