BRIGHTEN UP YOUR FALE WITH ORIGINAL PACIFIC ART FOR XMAS!
By Taualofa Totu’a & Penina Momoiseā
A new generation of Moana artists across the diaspora are redefining innovation, using social media platforms to build communities, market their work and support other budding creatives online. There’s room for everyone and all are original - from 3D collages to energetic illustrations, to calendars and skillful art prints. Join the growing audiences of Pacific artists this Xmas and support their work!
If you’re still stuck on what to gift for your loved ones, order a personalised commissioned piece by talented local Samoan illustrator Kerilyn Clarke, or opt for Fijian artist James Sanday's pacific patterns.
Read on to see where to get the best art for your own fale or for your loved one’s this Xmas season.
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PACIFIC WEAVE, FLAGS, MAPS & CREATURES OF THE PACIFIC!
Who: Pac Art by James Sanday
Pac Art is the work of Fijian-Rotuman artist James Sanday. He moved to New Zealand as a child, bringing the patterns and lines of the Pacific Islands with him.
Memories of voivoi leaves woven into baskets, the masi (tapa cloth) covering the floors, and the silhouettes of turtles and fish moving beneath the surface of the sea inspire his work.
A trained graphic designer, James combines Pacific patterns with a minimalist eye to create his art.
James lives in Tāmaki Makaurau/Auckland and is happiest in the bush or the sea.
James currently has an online sale - Order from the pac art website here
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CHRISTMAS COMMISSIONED PORTRAITS
Who: Kreated by Kerilyn - Illustrator & Designer
Kerilyn Clarke is a Maori/Samoan Digital illustrator and designer based in South Auckland ,NZ with roots in Ngāti Porou and Letogo / Fa'ala, Palauli.
Kreated by Kerilyn was created to showcase her love and passion for family and culture through digital art, intertwining her Māori and Samoan roots in the hope of inspiring and educating her community.
Order info and pricing here or email her on kreatedbykerilyn@gmail.com /DM via her instagram for enquiries.
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COMPLETE YOUR XMAS GIFT WITH A TATAU INSPIRED CERAMIC
Who: Masina Creative by Amanda Stowers
Based in Petone, Lower Hutt, Amanda Stowers is the Samoan artist behind Masina Creative here.
She works mostly with clay, creating handmade ceramic pieces hand carved with Sāmoan tatau and siapo motifs, with each motif being chosen for their meaning within Sāmoan culture.
"Each piece is thrown by hand on the pottery wheel, freehand carved, bisque fired in a pottery kiln, glazed by hand and fired again. The Mana of my ancestors pour from my hands, through my tools and into the clay as I work on each piece. Everything I make is unique and made with alofa."
Check out some of her work in the video below.
Masina Creative is available at the Te Papa Shop in Te Whanganui-a-Tara Wellington and at the Moana Fresh store in Avondale, Auckland or order online here
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STRONG PASIFIKA WOMEN INSPIRED PAINTINGS TO ILLUMINATE YOUR WALLS
Who: Tongan / Kiwi artist Luca Walton aka Lucid Luca
Born in Lautoka, Fiji, to a Tongan mother and Kiwi expat father, Luca’s paintings are a reflection of his heritage, cross-cultural identity and incredible childhood surroundings - the beautifully vibrant Kingdom of Tonga.
Luca is now based in Onehunga and says he draws inspiration from his unique upbringing and the strong Pasifika women integral to life - his Tongan mother and 3 older sisters. He intends his art to be a love letter to these important Pasifika women.
Shop fine art prints for Xmas on Luca's website here and follow him on instagram here
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PASIFIKA, HANDMADE, HAND CARVED AND HAND PRINTED!
Who: Ula and Her Brothers on Etsy
This incredible business is a popular seller on Etsy receiving glowing 5 star reviews from many customers. Buyers outside of Australia are still encouraged to purchase - but Ula And Her Brothers can’t guarantee orders will arrive on time. They're based in Sydney Australia and we highly recommend coming back to this creator for all your special occasions, even after the Xmas high dies down. From Hand Carved stamps, Lino Prints, Notebooks to Cards, this creator is doing the most with their original patterns.
Add a personal touch to your gifts by purchasing the works from here.
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FOR A MIX OF TRADITIONAL AND CONTEMPORARY, SHOP THIS TAPA ART!
Who: Kiwi Tongan Tapa artist by Tui Emma Gillies
Extraordinary artist Tui Emma Gillies is an expert in Tapa art, a practice mostly kept in the women's domain in Tonga. From Vava’u and Aotearoa, Gillies is known to mix the traditional practice with modern images and themes, challenging the norm. Her art has been shown to audiences all over the world!
Purchase her unique image called ‘Voyagers Print’ (on the back of the mulberry tree) which comes in A2 and A3 for friends or family this Xmas from the artists’ website.
“This piece was inspired by The Great Wave by Japanese ukiyo-e artist Hokusai. It is symbolic of the pacific ancestors that travelled the volatile seas in search of new homelands to settle in with their families.”
Follow and support the artist on Instagram @tuiemmagillies
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GIVE 2024 A FRESH START WITH THESE BEAUTIFUL CALENDARS FEATURING LOCAL CREATIVES!
Who: Moana Fresh Store
When Moana Fresh opened shop, they provided all kinds of makers and buyers a new place to obsess over one-of-a-kind products. These products are unique, often one-off and celebrate Pacific and Aotearoa made.
The Moana Fresh calendars are always a huge hit, featuring a range of bright local art on the month pages and the 2024 calendar out now is no different - with stunning new artists’ work from January to December!!
See below the description from Moana Fresh’s website on the original art works:
"Last year we looked at our indigenous family structures, our communal ways of seeing the world, and how this works in the decolonial movement. This 'ōlelo no’eau (Hawaiian proverb) is our starting point which can literally speak to the importance of childcare and parenting, while also speaking to wider themes about community and the intergenerational connections and responsibilities we hold to one another, to our resilience and solidarity in the struggle.
Symbols of the full and new moons have been included to incorporate your Maramataka/Moon related planning. As there are regional differences for the moon phases we have used the Gregorian dates as a baseline. In this second edition of our Moana Fresh calendar we have added further dates of significance to Moana Nui a Kiwa, from Aotearoa, to Tāhiti, Guåhan and Rapa Nui. The dates added so far are non-exhaustive and we will continue to add year after year (get in touch if you see a date we should add for our next one!)."
You can order online here OR go into their shop in Avondale at 64 Rosebank Road.
If you don’t already, follow and support this seki store on Instagram @moanafresh
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GIVE THESE UNIQUE ART PRINTS A LOVING HOME THIS XMAS
Who: Samoan and Tongan artist Penu Brewster
Pasifika artist Penu Brewster is based on the Gold Coast in Australia, creating magical prints that (what she says are her goals) have “meaning and substance”. With over 3000 followers on Instagram, Brewster is currently closed for commissions, but her prints are still available to order here.
Some of her stunning collections to check out include her Niue series, Tonga series, Samoa series and Hibiscus series. Penu is another cool artist to keep in mind for specific commissions for your loved ones in the future - but for now, we recommend ordering one of the pieces from her Pasifika series for your Xmas shopping.
Follow and support Penu on Instagram @penufbrewster_art
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SHOP AT URBAN NESIAN FOR COOL AFFORDABLE PRINTS
Who: Urban Nesian
Urban Nesian’s Art Prints are one of a kind and are the perfect last minute order for your Xmas shopping! They are reasonably priced and are available framed, printed on canvas, metal, or as floating acrylic prints. With up to 83 unique designs from celebrating Samoan malu on women to sign language to the cool kalo art, you are spoilt for choice.
Purchase for a friend from their site here.
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YOUNG, GIFTED AND SOUTH AUCKLAND BORN. PURCHASE PRINTS FROM THIS UP AND COMING PHOTOGRAPHER
Who: Christian Turner
With an expert eye for documenting moments and youthful joy, Christian Turner is a name on the rise. South Auckland made, Turner is known as a master networker amongst the young force of Pasifika creatives today. Having worked with the likes of @southsides (Geofferey Matautia) and @keciano6 Turner has sold home made Zines featuring candid images of his friends and family before. Be sure to purchase some of his energetic pieces this Xmas.
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SAMOAN CREATIVE NOW MAKING WAVES IN PHOTOGRAPHY, BUY HER WORK THIS XMAS!
Who: Jasmine Tuiā
Based in West Auckland, Jasmine Tuiā is an expert multidisciplinary practitioner from the villages of Matautu Lefaga, Malifa Apia and Falefa. She has been turning heads both in the art world and amongst her generation of young makers for her stunning Siapo pieces, as featured in her TAUTAI Faleship Home Residency. Giving her energy now more to her photography, Jasmine looks to document, archive and capture processes, spaces and places of her tapa practices, family members, cultural as well as family Measina through her photographic series.
