29 August – 26 October 2026 – Toi Matarau Gallery
Nō Tuawhakarere ngā kōrero tuku iho, nō Tāwhiti pāmamao!
An exhibition weaving worlds and whakapapa from Long Ago.
This Matariki a beautiful event took place. Tararua, a symbol of the people and ancient wonder, blessed Ōtaki with sprinklings of snowdust. Hugging the warmth of Toi Matarau, the idea of an inspirational exhibition took shape. Our work continues, elevating artists who have created a body of work, or are exploring the next phase of their arts practice.
In this group exhibition, we take a closer look at the unique symbolism and styles of making each artist is engaged in to create enduring experiences. Visual storytelling remains central to the artists, where their presence is thoughtfully considered and uplifted.
Weaving whakapapa of the ancients into Te Ao Mārama, the ancestors speak as artists reach into the ancient world of tūpuna to tell their stories.
Take the journey with us at Toi Matarau Gallery where discovery learning is unlimited, where imagination and curiosity is free and accessible.
Come and see a newly curated exhibition of; 2D paintings, drawings and prints, 3D sculptures, clay and ceramic works, Pounamu, designer jewellery, contemporary body adornment, weaving, ceremonial garments and more!
With work from special guest artists
Juhyeon Yi
Nyle Turuwhenua
Manu Edwin
Kirsti Neels
Tanya Shearer
Jenny Kenny
New works by
Jean Kahui
Darcy Nicholas
Steve Gibbs
Fiona Bryant
Elaine Bevan
Aria Parker
Messini Palace
Hikurangi Edwards
Regan Balzer
Jeanine Clarkin
Harete Tito
Reweti Arapere
Lucy de Young Hakaraia
Rīhari Warnock
Manu Edwin
Kirsti Neels
and others
Events
Nō Taukiuki Exhibition Opening
Saturday 29 August
1 pm
Toi Matarau Gallery at the Māoriland Hub
68 Main Street
Ōtaki
Guest Artists
Juhyeon Yi
Juhyeon/Oyuundalai is an artist currently based in Te Whanganui-a-Tara. He specialises in digital art, zine making, woodblock/lino printing, and DIY crafts. His works draw inspiration from traditional Buryat patterns with Animist/Shamanist themes, the South Korean Minjung art movement, and traditional Korean/Chinese patterns from temples.
Nyle Turuwhenua
Ngai Tūhoe
Nyle Turuwhenua is an award-winning Waikato-based artist of Māori, Scottish, and Irish descent. She is currently completing her fourth and final year of a Bachelor of Māori Visual Arts degree at Massey University and is a proud member of the Toi Whakaata Māori Print Collective. Her multidisciplinary practice moves between printmaking, painting, sculpture, and weaving, with a strong emphasis on process-led making and material exploration. Nyle’s work explores notions of whakapapa, connection, whenua and mātauranga Māori. For Nyle, developing skills as a weaver has been an important catalyst in her personal and artistic growth, opening pathways to reflect on identity and cultural heritage. Her printmaking and painting practice encapsulates ideas of kaitiakitanga, intergenerational knowledge, mana whenua and ancestral connection through physical making. In Nyle’s work, birds and weaving play a key role in the act of kaitiakitanga. Nyle values the tactile and the handmade, embracing the labour involved in printmaking and weaving.
Tanya Shearer
Rongowhakaata, Te Aitanga a Māhaki, Pākehā
Tanya Shearer is a ceramic artist living and working on the Kāpiti Coast.
She has been hand building decorative and domestic pottery for several years. She uses the practice as an opportunity to spend precious time alongside her mother, also a potter, and explore possibilities with clay.
Jennifer Kenny
Ngāti Mutunga
Ko Pipitarawai te Maunga, ko Mangatūkarewa te Awa, ko Whakamaharatanga te Marae, ko Wharekauri/Rēkohu te Moutere. Ko Ngāti Mutunga o Wharekauri taku Iwi. Ko Ngāti Mutunga raua ko Te Rōroa āku iwi o tāku tūpuna i te taha o tōku māmā. He mahi toi peita ahau, Ko Jenny ahau.
My work is about the everyday moments and big questions that connect us all. I use bold, colourful Māori forms in contemporary settings to look at life from a fresh perspective, inviting you to see your own stories in my art. My practice follows three main paths: Social Connections: In my “Weapon People” and “Food, Wine & Company” series, I focus on body language and familiar scenes—like sharing a meal or a glass of wine—to capture the feeling of being together. The Big Picture: With “Living Things, Lines & Curves,” I use symbols like crosses and X’s to quietly question things that affect us all, from faith and the environment to how we govern ourselves. Spontaneous Thoughts: Every so often, I step away to create abstract “Shorts” that reflect whatever is on my mind in the moment. For me, a piece is only truly finished when you connect with it and find a bit of your own experience in the characters or themes.
Exhibition Works
and more displayed in store…