Kereama Taepa studied for his Bachelor of Maori Visual Arts at Massey University in Palmerston North, and continued on to gain his Masters degree. Taepas involvement in the arts have been broad and varied including bronze technician at the Dibble Arts Foundry and participating in various national Maori arts symposiums, workshops and hui.
He has also been involved with fashion through his label Urbanmaori. As a finalist within the Miromoda Indigenous Fashion Awards twice he received entry to show at New Zealand Fashion Week in 2010 and 2011 within the Miromoda shows.
Taepa taught art within the Te Whare Wananga O Awanuiarangi Art and Visual Culture Degree for four years and currently teaches within the Bachelor of Creative Technologies at Waiariki Institute of Technology, Rotorua.
He has exhibited his art nationally and internationally, and has works in collections across New Zealand. He has recently installed sculptures for the Four Plinths Sculpture Project outside Te Papa, Wellington, early 2016 and a public sculpture in New Plymouth, 2015. His first major commissions saw him design the screens for the new toilets on the Waipa side of the Whakarewarewa forest in 2014 and the shrouds surrounding the Redwoods toilets in Rotorua 2013. He is a Supreme Award winner of the Molly Morpeth 2D Art Award in 2008, and picked up the Manawatu Potter’s Society Award’s open award in 2002.
Education
Massey University, Masters of Maori Visual Arts
Massey University, Bachelor of Maori Visual Arts - Hons
Major Commissions
2016
a (very) brief history of aotearoa – temporary public sculpture, Wellington
2015
AEIOU – Maori alphabet design, Rotorua Museum and Art Gallery
Tichi – bronze public sculpture, New Plymouth
ATM wrap design, ANZ
Drinking fountain designs, Rotorua Lakes Council
2014
Illustrations, Te Takeretanga, Levin
Waipa Toilet Block Screens, Rotorua Lakes Council
2013
Redwoods Toilet Shrouds, Rotorua Lakes Council
Exhibitions
Solo Exhibitions
2016
Geo, Helium Gallery, Rotorua
2015
Tauhuna, Art and Body Gallery, Mt Maunganui
2013
KABLAM! Rotorua Museum and Art Gallery, Rotorua
2006
Re:Context: thesis exhibition, Taketake Gallery, Whakatane
2002
Ko Iwi – People, Compendium Gallery, Auckland
Group Exhibitions
2015
Seven, The Artist’s Room Fine Art Gallery, Dunedin
Tuku Iho, Bath Street Gallery, Auckland
He Toi Reikorangi-Te Atiawa Celebrate Matariki, Mahara Gallery, Waikanae
He Kitenga, The Suter Art Gallery, Nelson
N8VLab - Oma Rapeti, Haus of Flox, Auckland
Dirty Laundry, Pop-up show, Christchurch
N8VLab-Oma Rapeti, Pataka Gallery, Porirua
2014
N8VLab - Auckland, Railway Street Studio and Gallery, Auckland
Paperworks X, The Artist’s Room Fine art Gallery, Dunedin
N8VLab – Transforma, The Artist’s Room Fine Art Gallery, Dunedin
2013
Papa Tipu, Expressions Gallery, Upper Hutt
Rotorua Museum Art Award, Rotorua Museum, Rotorua
Toi Waiariki, Creative Tauranga, Tauranga
2012
Whakapapa, Tauranga Art Gallery, Tauranga
2009
Tawharautia Mataatua, Bluechip stadium, Tauranga
A Taranaki Focus - The Summer Arts Festival 09 regional guest exhibition, War Memorial Hall, Whakatane
Matariki Exhibition, Creative Tauranga, Tauranga.
Marariki Exhibition, RAVE, Rotorua
Artists of Plenty - Calendar and exhibition. Fundraising project with proceeds going to Tauranga Women's Refuge
2008
Got it Sussed, Whakatane Museum, Whakatane
On Your Mark, Taketake Gallery, Te Toi Whakarei, Whakatane
Molly Morpeth 2D Award exhibition, War Memorial Hall, Whakatane
2007
Space Invaders, Artstation Gallery, Newton, Auckland
Te Peke Koura, Object Space, Auckland
Whakapapa, Taketake Gallery, Te Toi Whakarei, Whakatane
2005
Te Puawaitanga, Thermostat Gallery, Palmerston North
Father’s, daughter’s, son’s and moko, WSA Artspot Gallery, Hamilton
The Wanganui Painting Show/Twelve Artists, Te Wa Gallery, Wanganui
Ngaru Rua, Scott Ormond Gallery, Napier
2004
Te Tataitanga Matatau, Te Manawa Gallery, Palmerston North
Splendid, London, England
2003
Matatau, Te Manawa Gallery, Palmerston North
Whanau/Families/Mothers and Daughters/Fathers and Sons, Te Wa Gallery, Wanganui
Opening exhibition of the Wine Country Gallery, Wine Country Gallery, Havelock North, Hastings
2002
Manawatu Pottery Society Exhibition 2002, Toi Matarau Gallery and Studios, Te Wanaga o Aoteraroa, Palmerston North
2001
Te Rei Taniwha, Blue Pacific Gallery, Pataka, Porirua
Mata Aro, Te-Putahi-a-Toi, Massey University, Palmerston North
2000
A Chip off the Old Block, Blue Pacific Gallery, Pataka, Porirua
Collections
Rotorua Art Gallery and Museum Collection, Rotorua
Massey University Collection, Palmerston North
Te Manawa Gallery Collection, Palmerston North
Private Collection, Feilding
Te Wananga o Aoteraroa Head Office Collection, Te Awamutu
Teaching
2009 - Present
Waiariki Institute of Technology - Lecturer
2005 – 2008
Te Whare Wananga o Awanuiarangi - Lecturer
2002
Te Wananga o Aoteraroa - Guest lecturer
Professional Experience
2002-2004
Dibble Art Foundry - Foundry technician
Awards and Grants
2008
Molly Morpeth Canaday Open Art Award - Major Award Winner
2002
Manawatu Pottery Society - Award of Merit for entry in the Beginner’s Category and over all Premier Award for all categories
Bibliography
Books
Johnston, J. (2008). He Iti, He Taonga, Taranaki Maori Women Speak. (front cover). Auckland: Pinder NZ
Paama-Pengelly, J. (2010). Maori Art and Design. (pp. 20-23). Auckland: New Holland Publishers
Newspaper Articles
Daughter inspires winning artwork. (29 Jan. 2008). Whakatane Beacon, pp. 1
Design captures native bird's fragility. (22 Feb. 2013). Rotorua Daily Post
Digi Maori T shirt designer to show at NZ Fashion Awards. (16 Jun. 2011). Rotorua Daily Post
Toilets with view of bird life take shape. (6 Jun. 2013). Rotorua Daily Post
Website Articles
Digimaori at Miromoda. (1 Sep. 2011). The Big Idea
Smith, C. (2 Sep. 2011). Expert Eye: Miromoda. Auckland: NZ Herald
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