I’ve been lucky enough to have a sneak preview at the finalists for the Kiingi Tuheitia Portraiture Award, a celebration of emerging Māori artists. Portraits featuring whakairo (carving), raranga (weaving), photography, ceramics and oil paintings are just some of the works shortlisted in our country’s first portraiture award in honour of Kiingi Tuheitia.

The award, a partnership between the Office of the Kiingitanga and the New Zealand Portrait Gallery Te Pūkenga Whakaata, was launched to inspire a new generation of emerging Māori artists to create portraits of their tūpuna (ancestors).

Attracting 128 entries, of which 50 were selected for the short-list and will form the Finalists Exhibition, artists compete for a prize of $20,000. The Runner-Up and People's Choice Award provide $2,500 respectively. Artists were required to make a work with whakapapa connections to the depicted tūpuna.

The finalist artworks were judged by a panel of renowned artists. This include tohunga taa moko and kapa haka exponent Sir Derek Lardelli; celebrated artist, teacher and activist, Kura Te Waru Rewiri and artist Lisa Reihana, who is known around the world for her portraits and digital art.

“Kiingi Tuheitia is humbled and excited by the number of entrants received. This competition is a chance for Māori artists to shine and the Kiingitanga is proud to support the arts in this way. Sharing our whakapapa through art has always been important for our people. This award continues in that tradition and seeks to provide Te Iwi Māori with an opportunity to engage in a new kaupapa that is exciting,” said Archdeacon Ngira Simmonds, Ranga Tiki (Chief of Staff) for The office of The Kiingitanga.

The winning submission will be announced on 27 May 2021 and the exhibition will run at the New Zealand Portrait Gallery Te Pūkenga Whakata in Shed 11 on Wellington’s waterfront from 28 May to 15 August 2021 after this, the finalist exhibition will be touring nationally. Make sure you get there to see it!!

The full list of finalists can be found at the New Zealand Portrait Gallery website.

Here are my favourite picks! I’d love a couple of these images (or three) hanging on my wall at home…

Hannah Ireland | With Closed Eyes I Hear You Speak

Karaitiana Akroyd | Hon. Mokena Kohere M.L.C.

Emiko Sheehan | Collapse and Reconstruct Time