Maia Gibbs

Maia Gibbs is an artist based in Tūranganui-a-Kiwa who specialises in tā moko and painting. Renowned for his distinctive Te Tairāwhiti pūhoro and peha style, he grew up immersed in Toi Māori, and becoming an artist was a natural progression in his life.

He has further extended his reach into the art sphere as a co-owner with fellow artist Henare Brooking, operating a contemporary Māori art gallery and tā moko studio named TOI AKE based in Gisborne, Aotearoa. 

‘Te Manu Tū’ is a mixed media drawing- a single Tūī with a pollen-speckled beak guides our eye to one direction, while an opaque red whetū anchors our eyes in another direction. The deep black encompasses the Tūī as a key focal point, emanating a greater sense of purpose.

In the making of this experimental drawing, Maia took the opportunity to return to some of his original processes “with a fresh openness to play and have some fun”                 

“Being brought up in Te Tairāwhiti, I draw inspiration from the creative genius that emanates from the carved and painted meeting houses and cultural history. This includes the origins of whakairo, tā moko, kōwhaiwhai, and raranga. I have had the privilege to be mentored by Tā Derek Lardelli, Riki Manuel, and Mark Kopua, amongst others.”