Zena Elliott (born 1975) is a New Zealand artist. Their works are held in the collection of Auckland Art Gallery and Waikato Museum.[1][2] Elliott is affiliated with Ngāti Awa, Te Whānau-ā-Apanui, Ngāti Rangitihi, Ngāi Te Rangi and Te Arawa.[1]
Biography
Elliott was born in Whakatāne in 1975, and raised in Te Teko. They started their art practice in the 1990s. Elliott completed their Master of Visual Arts with Distinction at WINTEC in 2006, and a Bachelor of Māori Art (Whakairo) at Te Wānanga o Aotearoa.[1][3]
Elliott's paintings reflect references to their whakapapa with influences from abstract, stencil and street art. Inspirations include mid-20th-century abstract paintings of Bridget Riley and Frank Stella.[4]
Elliott's work explores themes of gender fluidity, visibility, cultural identity and popular culture. Their work is vibrant and lively, and Elliott has been incorporating fluorescent, glow-in-the-dark and neon colours into their work since the mid-1990s.[5]
Elliott's partner Tia Barrett is also an artist, and the two have exhibited works together.[6][5]
Exhibitions
Solo:
- Haukura/Neon Voice: Recent works by Zena Elliott, Waikato Museum, 2016[7]
- Ripekanga/Intersections, Milford Galleries, 2017[8]
- Whanonga Pono, Rotorua Arts Village, 2019[9]
Group:
- Neoteric, Whitespace, 2004[10]
- The Inimitable Mr. Hopkins, Waikato Museum, 2008[3]
- Got it Sussed, Whakatane Museum and Gallery, 2008[3]
- Tānikokiko, Māngere Arts Centre - Ngā Tohu o Uenuku, 2017[11]
- Frankton, Skinroom Gallery, 2020[12]
- Toi Tū Toi Ora, Auckland Art Gallery, 2020-21[13]
- Āniwaniwa, Wormhole, 2022[14]
- Zena Elliott & Tia Barrett: Muramura of Protest, Depot Artspace, 2023[5][15]
References
- 1 2 3 "Zena Elliott". Auckland Art Gallery. Retrieved 18 August 2023.
- ↑ "Zena Elliott". Waikato Museum. Retrieved 18 August 2023.
- 1 2 3 "Wintec commissions local artist". The Big Idea. 29 April 2009.
- ↑ "Flow". Auckland Art Gallery. Retrieved 18 August 2023.
- 1 2 3 "Zena Elliott & Tia Barrett: Muramura of Protest - Depot". depot.org.nz. Retrieved 18 August 2023.
- ↑ "Te Ao Māori". Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu. Retrieved 18 August 2023.
- ↑ "Haukura/Neon Voice: Recent works by Zena Elliott - Waikato Museum". waikatomuseum.co.nz. Retrieved 18 August 2023.
- ↑ "Art Seen: June 29". Otago Daily Times Online News. 29 June 2017. Retrieved 18 August 2023.
- ↑ "Ancestry and identity inspire Rotorua art exhibition". NZ Herald. 18 August 2023. Retrieved 18 August 2023.
- ↑ "Neoteric at Whitespace". The Big Idea. 6 February 2004.
- ↑ "Artist Zena Elliott and Tānikoniko exhibition". Te Ao Māori News. Retrieved 18 August 2023.
- ↑ "Quite frankly my dear, Frankton is where it's at". The Big Idea. 17 February 2020.
- ↑ "Toi Tū Toi Ora Artist Profile: Zena Elliott". Auckland Art Gallery. Retrieved 18 August 2023.
- ↑ "Āniwaniwa | Wormhole Gallery and Studio | Edgecumbe". Wormhole. Retrieved 18 August 2023.
- ↑ "Collaborative, Multidisciplinary Exhibitions Platform Four Wāhine Artists | Scoop News". www.scoop.co.nz. Retrieved 18 August 2023.