Alan Gibbs

Alan Gibbs (born 1939) is a New Zealand-born businessman, entrepreneur and art collector. After a successful business career in New Zealand, which made him one of that country's wealthiest individuals, he relocated to London in 1999. He retains strong links to New Zealand through his development of Gibbs Farm, one of the world's leading sculpture parks. He is the founder of Gibbs Amphibians, based in Detroit, Michigan, Nuneaton, UK, and Auckland, New Zealand, which pioneers high-speed amphibious vehicle technologies.

Early life
Alan Gibbs was born in Christchurch, the son of Theodore Nisbet Gibbs and Elsie Gibbs.

New Zealand business career
Gibbs went to London in 1963 as Third Secretary in the New Zealand High Commission, returning to New Zealand in 1965 to work in the Prime Minister's department.

Art and sculpture collection at Gibbs Farm
Gibbs is one of New Zealand's leading art collectors, and since 1991 has been establishing a sprawling 1000 acre sculpture park at Gibbs Farm, which is located on Kaipara Harbour on New Zealand's North Island, 50 km north of Auckland in the Rodney district.

Among the art works installed on The Farm are monumental pieces by contemporary artists including Daniel Buren, Neil Dawson, Marijke de Goey, Andy Goldsworthy, Anish Kapoor, George Rickey, Richard Serra and Bernar Venet.



Honours and awards
In 2018, Gibbs was inducted into the New Zealand Business Hall of Fame.

Books and media

 * "Seeing the Landscape: Richard Serra's Te Tuhirangi Contour", documentary film by Alberta Chu, 2003.
 * "New Form at the Farm: Anish Kapoor's Dismemberment Site 1", documentary film by Alberta Chu, 2010.
 * Serious Fun: The Life and Times of Alan Gibbs by Paul Goldsmith; ebook; Random House New Zealand; 3 August 2012;, ISBN 9781869799304