Al Qoyawayma is a contemporary Hopi artist renown for his pottery and bronze sculptures. Al Qoyawayma was born in Los Angeles, California in the year 1938. His work often includes maize, similar to corn, which is a staple of life for his people. Another cultural idea he uses is to fire his work at very high temperatures using coal.
Qoyawayma attended college at California Polytech State University earning a bachelors degree. The artist went on to earn a master’s degree in engineering from University of Southern California.
In this clip we view a wonderful piece of pottery by the artist:
In a very cool endeavor the artist talks about one of his pots going on a space voyage. The artist is also the co-founder of the American Indian Science and Engineering Society:
The artist won a scholarship to help the people of New Zealand, the Maori, rediscover their pottery making traditions.
Qoyawayma is part of the permanent collection of the National Museum of the American Indian.
Al Qoyawayma is an amazing artist who has found his own perfect mix of ancient traditions and new ideas in his process. This gives his work a wonderful mix of old and new. His works that portray ancient Hopi dwellings are simply stunning!
June Northcroft Grant is a Maori Artist from New Zealand. The artist was born and raised in the cities of Wairoi and Wanganui, New Zealand. Grant attended the Waiariki Polytechnic in Rotorua, New Zealand.
She is the descendant of a well known tourist guide. Grant also maintains connections to groups that promote tourism and industry of the Maori culture.
Grant enjoys telling the stories of her tribe through her art. She often looks to her ancestors and tribe for stories to tell. She finds that one story and painting will often lead to another painting.
The artist is a fantastic business person starting who own company which specialized in producing screen prints of Maori art. She has received many awards for her business prowess.
Askew One is a fantastic graffiti artist from New Zealand. The artist uses text in his work but also paints incredible portraits.
Askew One’s government name is Elliot O’Donnell.
He began making street art when he entered high school in the early 1990s.
Below the artist talks about his love of graffiti and art. He :
The artist often uses mixed media in his paintings such as acrylics and enamel. He also paints on unique surfaces such as plexiglass.
The artist is based out of Auckland, New Zealand.
Askew One uses spray paint, acrylic, and vinyl paint in the creation of his art.
Price range information: Sorry none available.
In this clip we view the artist at work for a show featuring his portrait work. I find this type of portrait work reminds me of Warhol’s first portrait efforts:
I love the artistic statement of Askew One! He thinks of himself as a crash test dummy jumping head first into trouble! This approach has garnered him some fantastic results!
Patrick Amos is a First Nations representing the Mowachat band of the Nuu-chah-nulth Nation. Patrick Amos was born on Nookta Island in British Columbia, Canada in the year 1957. Amos is a very prolific artist working as a carver, sculptor, producer of masks, drums, maker of boxes, and printmaker.
He began his career studying with master First Nations artist Tony Hunt Sr.
In this clip a brief interview with the artist and some of his works. He began carving before he was a teen and he shares his painting process:
Patrick Amos has worked at the Royal British Columbia Museum. Here he has worked with First Nations artist Tim Paul. One collaboration was for a 36 foot totem pole for the Maori people of New Zealand.
Amos has also taught classes about Native Canadian Art at the collegiate level. Amos has taught at the Duquaht School of Art located in Ucelet, British Columbia since the early 1990s.
Price range information: Sorry none available.
Patrick Amos is one of my favorite First Nations artist mainly for his design skills. The interesting idea of including a human face on the frog in the gallery I found very interesting. Amos reminds me of the American painter Beverly Doolittle. Doolittle paints the scenes of the American West that often have faces of people hidden in the landscape.
I enjoy the mediums explored by the artist. What a multi talented master artist! It’s great to see someone so talented teaching at the collegiate level.
Todd Couper is a Maori artist from New Zealand who creates remarkable wildlife carvings. Todd Couper was born in 1974. Couper produces carvings and jewelry.
For his artistic education Couper attended the Te Aute Boys College and also Waiariki Institute of Technology.
Couper is highly sought after for his works with birds. Couper has also done some great works with the whale as his subject.
Derek Lardelli is a master of Maori Art, which comes from the country of New Zealand. Derek Lardelli was born in the year 1961.
Lardelli has designed and completed many large public sized sculptures.
The artist is also a great commercial success! As we see in this clip an Aussie Rules Football Team used his design for their new jerseys. What a great idea and great opportunity for artists. The artist has also worked with a Air New Zealand incorporating his Maori graphics with their brand for a new look.
Derek Lardelli enjoys traveling the globe and spreading news about his Maori culture.
Lardelli is also a teacher and in 2012 was named associate professor at the Eastland Institute of Technology.
The artist is based out of Gisborne, New Zealand. The city is located in the northeastern region of the country.
Price range information: Sorry none available.
Lardelli is also a song writer and composer in his native Maori language. These are also called chants and hakas.
Peter McIntyre was a wonder painter of people and landscapes born in Dunedin, New Zealand in in 1910. McIntyre was renown for his paintings of war scenes.
His father was also an artist and was renown for his printmaking work.
In this clip a great montage of works,especially war images, of Peter McIntyre.
For his artistic education the artist attended Otago University in New Zealand and then the Slade School of Art in London, England.
Worked as in the commercial art field in Britain for many years.
Served in World War II.
Publisher of many books over his life time.
Passed away in 1995 at the age of 85 years old.
price range information: McIntytre worked with oils priced $3,000 to $40,000. Watercolours priced $3,000 to $20,000.
Shane Cotton was born in Lower Hutt, New Zealand in the year 1964. His background is part Maori, so he sometimes expresses his ideas on colonialism, capitalism, and the modern world.
For his artistic education Cotton attended the IIam School of Fine Arts in 1988.
Upon graduation was part of teaching faculty at Massey University.
Was a winner of the Frances Hodgkins Fellowship. One of the best artist in residence opportunities in New Zealand this award is given to an up and coming artist of the region. Hodgkins was a well known and respected New Zealand artist born in 1869. Below is an example Hodgkin’s painting style. Upon winning this prize Cotton’s work was in high demand.
Price range information: The artist has produced screenprints which $1,000 to $1,500. Original acrylics range $1,000 to $35,000. Lithographs cost $1,000 to $2,000.
In this clip from the National Gallery of Australia a work titled three quarters view is explained. As in his past work Cotton makes us aware of the different ideas that exist at this time from colonialism to Christianity and also the Maori culture which is also part of the artist heritage.
Its important when looking at Cotton’s work to SLOW DOWN! Take it all in and recognize that every object in the painting has meaning. It could be a golden finch (bird) or even some plain text, but his paintings have a deep emotional and cultural feel though it may not be felt at first if you don’t know what the symbols mean, such as the finch.
Rex Homan is a wonderful contemporary artist born in Thames, New Zealand in the year 1940. Homan is a master of Maori art, this is art coming from the country of New Zealand.
Homan is known for his work with wood, though he does works with bronze as well.
Now lives in Tuaranga, New Zealand.
When working in a series he will sculpt birds from a particular region such as Canada or his native New Zealand.
My favorite works by Homan are his owls. Owls play an important role in the Inuit society in Canada, especially the snowy owl that takes away your spirit when you pass away. Its interesting to see Inuit art and Maori art that use the same subject matter. Ravens, crows, and eagles have all been explored by the artist. I enjoy the simplicity and flowing lines use by the artist.
When comparing the works of Rex Homan to another artist I am reminded of the great Charlie Harper. Harper was a wonderful illustrator and did many series with various species of birds. The flowing lines and bright colours used by Homan made me think that had Charlie Harper been a sculptor, this is what his work would look like today. Below an example of an owl by Charlie Harper.
Price range information: Works in wood and bronze range $6500 to $20,000.
Mike Morgan is a well known artist all throughout Australia and New Zealand best known for his Surrealist paintings depicting large groups of people enjoying themselves. Mike Morgan was born in Whangarei ,New Zealand in the year 1952.
When the artist was fifteen he got employment at a local newspaper working in the cartoon and caricature section of the operation.
In 1972 at the age of twenty Morgan started painting with oils for the first time.
In 1980 made a voyage to North America visiting both Canada and the United States for the first time. Upon his return to Australia in 1981 Morgan was determined to be a full time professional artist.
1987 sells works to the Children’s Hospital.
1989 sells works to rock band U2.
Mike Morgan is now based out of Auckland, New Zealand.
Price range information: Sorry none available.
In the clip below we visit a gallery show. The first 50 seconds is a scary trip in a car to the gallery, I say scary because in New Zealand cars drive on the left side of the road. Paintings start around 50 seconds into the clip.
When looking at his highly illustrative style I reminded of John Brack, the two are very similar with wonderful characters full of expression. I did a post on John Brack just a few days ago but to refresh your memory a painting by John Brack below. Brack came from Australia and lived from 1920 to 1999. Its his most famous work, 5 o’clock Collins Street, showing evening rush hour in Australia. A great painter of crowd and group scenes, something else in common with Mike Morgan.
Diattaart Blog 
Artist of the moment…. Shane Cotton….
{ April 23, 2013 @ 7:32 pm } · { Uncategorized }
{ Tags: frances hodgkins, maori, New Zealand, political commentary, shane cotton, social commentary } · { Leave a Comment }
Shane Cotton was born in Lower Hutt, New Zealand in the year 1964. His background is part Maori, so he sometimes expresses his ideas on colonialism, capitalism, and the modern world.
For his artistic education Cotton attended the IIam School of Fine Arts in 1988.
Upon graduation was part of teaching faculty at Massey University.
Was a winner of the Frances Hodgkins Fellowship. One of the best artist in residence opportunities in New Zealand this award is given to an up and coming artist of the region. Hodgkins was a well known and respected New Zealand artist born in 1869. Below is an example Hodgkin’s painting style. Upon winning this prize Cotton’s work was in high demand.
Price range information: The artist has produced screenprints which $1,000 to $1,500. Original acrylics range $1,000 to $35,000. Lithographs cost $1,000 to $2,000.
In this clip from the National Gallery of Australia a work titled three quarters view is explained. As in his past work Cotton makes us aware of the different ideas that exist at this time from colonialism to Christianity and also the Maori culture which is also part of the artist heritage.
Its important when looking at Cotton’s work to SLOW DOWN! Take it all in and recognize that every object in the painting has meaning. It could be a golden finch (bird) or even some plain text, but his paintings have a deep emotional and cultural feel though it may not be felt at first if you don’t know what the symbols mean, such as the finch.
D