Charlotte Graham (born 1972) is a contemporary Māori artist living in her tribal homelands of Auckland. She is a mandated artist for her iwi Ngāti Whanaunga. She sits on the Te Uru Contemporary Gallery board and is also part of the Te Atinga Committee. Her works are held at the Auckland Art Gallery, Toi o Tāmaki, the Chartwell collection, James Wallace Collection, many universities and private collections throughout the world. Of Māori and Scottish descent, Graham identifies with Ngāti Mahuta, Ngāi Tai ki Tāmaki, Ngāti Whanaunga, Ngāti Pāoa Ngāti Tamaoho Te Akitai Waiohua and Ngāti Kōtimana.

Early life

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Charlotte Graham was born in 1972 in Perth, Western Australia, to Māori parents from New Zealand. The family moved back to Auckland, New Zealand six months after Graham was born. Graham has a number of relatives who have been practicing artists, including aunt Emily Karaka, uncle Mikaara Kirkwood, cousins Te Rongo Kirkwood and Reuben Kirkwood. Graham's two older sisters Teresa Grahsm and Raewyn Graham are also artists.[1]

Graham attended Mount Roskill Grammar School.[1]

Education

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Graham graduated with a Post- graduate diploma in Māori Visual Arts from Massey University in 2001.[2] She studied under Robert Jahnke, Shane Cotton and Kura Te Waru Rewiri as one of the first graduate students for the degree.[1]

After completing her post-graduate studies in Māori visual art, Graham trained as a teacher (Auckland University) and worked at secondary schools in Auckland, including Māori boarding school St Stephens, while continuing to make art. She also worked full time as a Kaihangatoi (Māori art tutor) at Mason Clinic, WDHB, forensic psychiatric services.[3][1]

Career

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Graham's art practice draws on her Māori heritage to explore critical issues that affect New Zealand society such as racism, cultural stereotyping and land rights, particularly the controversial foreshore and seabed legislation. Frequently her works incorporate Treaty of Waitangi and Māori motifs.[2] Graham cites her grandmother, Rose Isobel Simons, as a key creative influence on her life.[1] Graham believes that the foreshore and seabed controversy was the issue that gave her the political drive as an artist.[1]

Solo exhibitions

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  • Trouble in Paradise at Oedipus Rex Gallery, Auckland, 2004. Graham presented both text and pictorial devices to address the New Zealand foreshore and seabed controversy. Her imagery included traditional Māori motifs and European numerals.[4]
  • Nga Karetao at Oedipus Rex Gallery, Auckland, 2005. This exhibition featured karetao (puppets) carved to represent the MPs holding each of the seven Māori seats in Parliament.[5]
  • Kaitiaki at Mangere Arts Centre, Auckland in 2015.[6][7]
  • Te Waiora installation work in Auckland's Britomart precinct.[1][8]

Group exhibitions

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Awards and residencies

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  • Fundación Mar Adentro residency recipient in Bosque Peheun, Chile, May 2017. The Fundación Mar Adentro is a private foundation based in Santiago, Chile, which aims to promote natural and cultural heritage in society.[22]

Personal life

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Graham's has four children.[1]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g h "BRITOMART PEOPLE / CHARLOTTE GRAHAM". Britomart. 6 December 2018. Archived from the original on 28 April 2019. Retrieved 28 April 2019.
  2. ^ a b Jefferies, Lyndal (13 July 2006). "Who's doing what in the arts". Gulf News.
  3. ^ a b Morgan, Scott (20 July 2007). "Artist humbled by global interest". Central Leader.
  4. ^ McNamara, T. J. (2 May 2004). "Recommended". The New Zealand Herald.
  5. ^ Gifford, Adam (23 November 2005). "Political puppets pack a punch". The New Zealand Herald.
  6. ^ McNamara, T. J. (4 July 2015). "The guardians of spirituality". Weekend Herald.
  7. ^ "Ngā Ringa Raupā - Charlotte Graham". Māori Television. Retrieved 28 April 2019.
  8. ^ "Te Waiora - a Christmas connection in Auckland". LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE AOTEAROA. 17 December 2018. Retrieved 28 April 2019.
  9. ^ McNamara, T. J. (4 March 2002). "What the critics say". The New Zealand Herald.
  10. ^ McNamara, T. J. (5 November 2003). "Recommended". The New Zealand Herald.
  11. ^ "Confusion in exhibition". Tu Mai: 34. July 2004.
  12. ^ McNamara, T. J. (27 October 2004). "Recommended". The New Zealand Herald.
  13. ^ Jones, Angela (10 October 2004). "Permission to paint". Sunday Star Times.
  14. ^ Borell, Nigel (31 October 2004). "Rites of cultural heritage". Tu Mai: 36–37.
  15. ^ Craymer, Lucy (10 November 2004). "View cutting edge pieces". Whakatane Beacon.
  16. ^ Jackson, Penelope (8 December 2004). "Weighty paper works". Bay of Plenty Times.
  17. ^ Jefferies, Lyndal (9 June 2005). "Who's doing what in the arts". Gulf News.
  18. ^ "An exploration of the tiki image". Tu Mai: 28–30. 31 August 2005.
  19. ^ Metro. "Metro". www.metromag.co.nz. Retrieved 28 April 2019.
  20. ^ "Art exhibition challenges perceptions around the 'discovery' of New Zealand". Stuff. Retrieved 28 April 2019.
  21. ^ "Toi Tū Toi Ora: Contemporary Māori Art - Announcements - e-flux". www.e-flux.com. Retrieved 14 May 2024.
  22. ^ "Majesty of southern Chile's natural environment and culture to inspire prolific Māori visual artist". www.creativenz.govt.nz. Retrieved 28 April 2019.