Ka tākiri ake ngā haeata o Tamanuiterā

Tessa Russell is an interdisciplinary artist who places her voice as a Māori mother at the center of her practice. She carefully considers how her practice would impact the world her descendants will one day live in; she explores sustainable methods and materials, unapologetically declaring the relationship Māori have with their environment. Tessa’s work opens up conversations addressing current issues affecting Māori, always reflecting on whakapapa, mana, and mauri. A portrait photographer for 10 years before returning to study in 2019, Tessa completed a Bachelor of Māori Visual Arts at Toioho ki Apiti Massey University in 2021 with First Class Honours, earning a Māori Scholar Award for being in the top 5% of her graduating class as well as the Rangatira Award on behalf of the Associate Dean-Māori. Tessa has exhibited around Aotearoa in group and solo exhibitions, becoming a finalist in several art awards, including the Wellington Regional Arts Review and Te Taura Whiri Ngā Tohu Reo Māori Awards. She has taken awards home from the Inaugural Kingii Tuheitia Portraiture Awards, the Molly Morpeth Canaday Awards, the ECC NZ Student Craft / Design awards, and the New Zealand Painting and Printmaking Awards.