About Douglas
Douglas Lloyd Jenkins is a New Zealand writer, academic, museum director and television presenter. He has been described by Wallpaper magazine as, ‘one of the most influential design writers in the Southern Hemisphere.’
Douglas was born in Epsom, Auckland on 22nd November 1963. His birth coincided with the assassination of John F. Kennedy, a point often referenced in biographical summaries. In 1967 his family moved from Massey, West Auckland to Beach Haven on the North Shore where Douglas later attended Birkdale College. Here he showed an early interest in exploring local history.
In 1994, he graduated from the Bachelor of Arts programme, University of Auckland. Between 1984 and 1987 he completed a large part of a Diploma in Design (furniture) at Carrington Polytechnic, subsequently working as a furniture designer for Morgan Brothers Ltd, Auckland. He completed his Master’s degree (Art History) University of Auckland in 1998 with a thesis on the German/New Zealand weaver Ilse von Randow.
Douglas joined the Staff of Unitec, School of Design in 1990 where in 2000 he was appointed Associate Professor. Douglas began writing and curating soon after his appointment being one of the first academics to emphasise and promote the new discipline of Design History in New Zealand. In 1991 he curated the design component of the Auckland Art Gallery’s 1950s Show, then the largest exhibition undertaken by that institution. In subsequent decades he went on to complete a number of other curatorial projects largely in association with the Hawke’s Bay Museum, Napier.
Between 1997 and 2000 Jenkins was a regular weekly design and architecture columnist for the New Zealand Herald. This was followed by a period with the New Zealand Listener. He also made regular contributions to Art New Zealand, Architecture New Zealand and Home New Zealand as well as to Australian publications through the 1990s and early 2000s. Columns written for Home New Zealand later appeared as 40 Legends of Design (2006).
In 2001 and 2002 Jenkins presented the television series The Big Art Trip co-presenting with screenwriter Nick Ward and subsequently musician Fiona MacDonald. Repeat screenings of this programme over the decade that followed made it one of the most widely watched arts programmes in New Zealand. In 2005 Jenkins also appeared as a panelist on New Zealand’s Top 100 History Makers, screened on Prime Television September 2005.
In 2005 Douglas published At Home: A Century of New Zealand Design. Described as ‘an important contribution to the initial charting of the territory of New Zealand domestic design in the twentieth century.’ This won the Montana Book Award: Medal for Non Fiction and was subsequently made into a 8 part television series, written and presented by Douglas, made for MF Films for TVNZ. Screening in July 2006.
In 2003, Douglas presented the Inaugural R. H. Toy Memorial Address, College of Fellows New Zealand Institute of Architects and in 2009 awarded the New Zealand Institute of Architects Presidents Award: Contribution to Architecture. He was a founding trustee of Objectspace Gallery, Auckland and President of the NZ Costume & Textile Association (2009-2012). In 2008 he was made a Member Order of New Zealand Merit: Contribution to Architecture & Design.
In 2006 Douglas was appointed Director Hawkes Bay Museum [& Art Gallery] one of New Zealand’s oldest and exhibiting institutions where he undertook a significant programme of revitalization and collection development. This included the acquisition of important art works including Christopher Perkins, ‘Portrait of Annette Stiver,’ (1931), Dick Frizzell, Apollinaire at 21,’ (1978) and Philip Clairmont, ‘Erotic Couch,’ (1977). He was also instrumental in building the design and costume collections including the acquisition of the iconic wardrobe of politician Whetu Tirikatene-Sullivan. In 2010 the Hawkes Bay Museum & Art Gallery closed and underwent an $18 million development project reopening in September 2013 as MTG Hawke’s Bay. In 2014 Douglas, resigned in order to focus on writing.
In 2016 he published Beach Life: A celebration of New Zealand Beach Culture which won the Publishers Association of New Zealand (PANZ) Best Illustrated Book award. In 2018, Douglas while remaining active as a commentator on the subject of masculinity and gay history, turned his attention to fiction. His first novel Shelter was published by David Bateman in 2022
Douglas Lloyd Jenkins identifies as gay and lives in Auckland, New Zealand.
Awards
Best Illustrated Book – Beach Life, PANZ Book Awards - (2017)
Finalist: New Zealand Post Book Awards for The Dress Circle - (2011)
NZIA Presidents Award: Contribution to Architecture - (2009)
Member Order of New Zealand Merit: Contribution to Design - (2008)
Montana Book Award: History Category for At Home - (2005)
Montana Book Award: Medal for Non Fiction for At Home - (2005)