Brett Keno

Aronga Toi: Whakairo
Iwi: Ngāi Te Rangi, Ngāti Ranginui, and Ngāi Tahu

Akoranga:
Brett Keno currently resides in Ōtaki and hails from Ngāi Te Rangi, Ngāti Ranginui, and Ngāi Tahu. Born and raised in Wellington, Brett began his stone carving journey in 2005 and has been carving full-time since 2013.

More recently, Brett has become a newly registered Te Ara Whakarakei artist for Toi Iho, ensuring that the authenticity and ethical sourcing of Māori art is maintained with integrity. Brett is a proactive artist within the community, conducting workshops from his private studio with the support of his wife Christine.

Kaupapa:
From the tip of the pencil to the edge of a chisel, Brett lifts his sketches from paper into physical form through limestone sculptures. Primarily using Pākeho sourced from Oamaru as his main medium to bring these forms to life. He continues to design bespoke pieces for an array of different kaupapa- treading between sculptural design in the world of the living, and memorial gravestones for those who have passed.

Brett’s works ‘Ocean Waves’ and ‘Reflection’ showcase his careful consideration for storytelling through form. At a closer stance the eye unveils layers of form hidden in the negative space- an under-lapping, and overlapping current encompassing each other to create the sculpture as a whole.