Shortly before Len Lye's death in 1980, arrangements were made to establish the Len Lye Foundation. In accordance with the artist's Deed of Trust, his collection of work returned to New Zealand, the country of his birth.
Lye's archives, sculpture, painting, textiles, and photographic work are housed at the Govett-Brewster Art Gallery in New Plymouth, where regular exhibitions of his work are held. The New Zealand Film Archive is the repository of the Len Lye Foundation's film collection.
The Foundation is registered in New Zealand as a non profit incorporated society. Its function is to provide for the conservation, reproduction and promotion of the works of Len Lye and to make facilities available for research. The Foundation holds copyright for much of the material it owns, and is empowered to issue prints of the artist's films (where copyright and licence allow), authorize the publication of his written work, and to develop and edition reconstructions of his kinetic sculptures. From a vitally creative life of exploration and experiment, we have inherited a substantial body of work. The existence of the Len Lye Foundation ensures that this work remains an active cultural force.
• Chair: John Matthews, New Plymouth
• Director: Evan Webb, Christchurch
• Trustee: Wystan Curnow, Auckland
• Trustee: Roger Horrocks, Auckland
• Trustee: Max Gimblett, New York
• Trustee: Rhana Devenport, Director, Govett-Brewster Art Gallery
• Trustee: Tyler Cann, Curator, Ikon Gallery and Len Lye Curator-at-Large, Govett-Brewster Art Gallery
Len Lye Trilogy (Flip & Two Twisters ) 1977. Govett-Brewster Art Gallery installation view