The artist, who was born and raised in Auckland, has been permanently based in New York since the 1970s.
He returns to the gallery where he has been represented for 10 years with eight or nine of his pieces to be displayed in "Max Gimblett: The Perfect Mirror".
Gallery director Nadene Milne said Gimblett would give an "insightful and thoroughly entertaining floor talk about his painting philosophy and cover some of the techniques and materials he uses in rendering the works".
"And no doubt, knowing Max, he will talk about living life to the fullest extent."
Gimblett said, in his artist's statement, Pacific Rim ideology was apparent in his work, as well as the influence of Asian art, particularly ink painting and calligraphy.
Ms Milne said two of Gimblett's works became part of the permanent collection of the Guggenheim Museum, in New York, earlier this year.
The show opens with his public talk in the gallery in Arrowtown on Friday at 7pm.
