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