Black Door Gallery
251 Parnell Road
Parnell, Auckland, 1052
(09) 368 4554
info@blackdoorgallery.co.nz
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Robyn Kahukiwa


Robyn Kahukiwa is one of the foremost Māori artists in New Zealand. Kahukiwa’s work is often celebrated for its contribution to the evolution of traditional and contemporary Māori art, and her interweaving of art and politics.

Australian born, Kahukiwa lost connection with her culture and family until her return to Aotearoa at age nineteen. The rediscovery of her Māori heritage was the catalyst to her becoming a renowned thinker and maker. In the 1960s and '70s, as a young mother living in the state housing units of Wellington, Robyn Kahukiwa began quietly producing artworks depicting marginalisation, dis-empowerment and spiritual displacement. The events of the mid-1970s such as the Hikoi (Land March on Parliament) and the passing of the Treaty of Waitangi Act further determined her interest in issues relevant to Māori. She embarked on a body of work that crossed between ambitious protest style paintings, illustrative work and text rich pieces.

Today, Kahukiwa's art remains true to the core ideas of her early work. While Kahukiwa’s themes remain activist in nature, often exploring complex and fraught ideas of the dissolution of Māori identity, resettlement and cultural identity; her compositions are increasingly uncluttered and restrained, featuring only her powerful and select motifs. Now in her 80s, with a significant body of work behind her, there is a sense that her making has served as a form of therapy, a spiritual and cultural healing. As Kahukiwa describes: “The reality of Māori life today has got to be put by me on canvas, because otherwise I have to think about it myself…that's how I can deal with it.” 

Kahukiwa has work in notable collections across New Zealand including Te Papa, Auckland Art Gallery, MFAT and the University of Auckland. Te Papa museum currently holds 23 Kahukiwa works in their collection and the Auckland Art Gallery have several major works. In 2011, Kahukiwa was awarded with the Te Tohu Toi Kē Award from Te Waka Toi, the Māori arm of Creative New Zealand.
Robyn Kahukiwa is a significant ​Māori artist who creates powerful works that interweave art and politics.

Robyn Kahukiwa Artworks Available At Black Door Gallery


Robyn Kahukiwa, "Child Hunger Damaged Potential", Collage on Silkscreen Print, 58 x 44cm, 2014
Robyn Kahukiwa, "Papa", Acrylic on Canvas, Archival Framed, Artwork Size 76.5 W x 76.5cm H, 2019

Previously Exhibited Robyn Kahukiwa Artworks


Robyn Kahukiwa, "Hina Kaha", Acrylic on canvas, 760 x 760mm, 2017
Robyn Kahukiwa, "Te Whare Tangata", Acrylic on Canvas, 2018
Robyn Kahukiwa, "Nga Huia", Tapu Head series, Acrylic on canvas, 300 x 400mm, 2017
Robyn Kahukiwa, "Te Tui Me Te Wahine", Acrylic on Canvas, 2015
Robyn Kahukiwa, "Wahine Me Tui", Acrylic on Canvas, 2014
Robyn Kahukiwa, "Mana Māori Motuhake (Unique Māori Mana)", Acrylic on Canvas, 610 x 450mm, 2017
Robyn Kahukiwa, "Tuākana Teina", Acrylic on Canvas, Archival Framed, Artwork Size 355 W x 460mm H, 2019, SOLD
Robyn Kahukiwa, "Papatūānuku me Rūaumoko", Acrylic on Canvas, Archival Framed, Artwork Size 610 W x 305mm H, 2019
Robyn Kahukiwa, "Mana Wahine Toa", Acrylic on Canvas, 760 x 1020mm, 2019
Robyn Kahukiwa, "Pou Hine me Mere Pounamu", Oil on Canvas, Framed, 1200 x 600mm, 2016
Robyn Kahukiwa, "Hine Kōkōwai (Diptych)", Acrylic on Canvas, Archival Framed, Artwork Size 355 W x 455mm H each canvas, 2019
Robyn Kahukiwa, "Pou Hine me Taiaha", Oil on Canvas, Framed, 1200 x 600mm, 2016
Robyn Kahukiwa, "Papatūānuku", Acrylic on Canvas, Archival Framed, Artwork Size 41 W x 31cm H, 2019, SOLD

Select Robyn Kahukiwa Artworks- Exhibition and In Situ


Robyn Kahukiwa Artwork, "Pare Kawakawa" In Situ
Robyn Kahukiwa, "Hapu (Taranga)", In Situ (Exhibition Wahine me Tamariki, 2014)
Robyn Kahukiwa, "Whakapapa of Water", 1210 x 2130mm, 2012, In Situ (Exhibition Nga Atua, 2012)
Robyn Kahukiwa Artworks In Situ
Robyn Kahukiwa Artworks In Situ, Upoko Tapu (Left), Mareikura (Right), Exhibition- Upoko Tapu Sacred Head, 2017
Robyn Kahukiwa, "Haehae", In Situ (Exhibition Nga Atua, 2012)
Robyn Kahukiwa, Te Whenua, Te Whenua, Engari Kaore He Turangawaewae (Placenta, Land, but Nowhere to Stand), At Auckland Art Gallery, 2018
Robyn Kahukiwa in Waitangi Wahine, Curated by Chriss Doherty-McGregor in 2015 to commemorate the 175th anniversary of the signing of Te Tiriti o WaitangiThe Treaty. Waitangi Wahine brings together five Mana Wahine artists with reputations for pushing boundaries; showcasing work that uses a variety of media from big name artists Robyn Kahukiwa, Linda Munn, Suzanne Tamaki, Tracey Tawhiao and Andrea Hopkins.

Awards and Accolades


Public Collection Inclusion
  • Te Papa
  • Auckland Art Gallery
  • MFAT
  • ​University of Auckland
Significant Exhibition
  • 2014: Major exhibition at the AAG “Five Maori Painters" (22.2.14 to 15.6.2014)
  • 2016- 2017: Wahine Waitangi which toured NZ
Publication Awards
  • 1994: Young People's Non-fiction Award for Paikea

Robyn Kahukiwa Exhibition Archive


View Past Works Here
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​Black Door Gallery
251 Parnell Road
Parnell, Auckland,
​New Zealand, 1052


(09) 368 4554
info@blackdoorgallery.co.nz
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Saturday, 10.00am - 4.00pm
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