Maia Kreisler
Maia Kreisler — 'Parihaka' Vessel, 2025
This work forms part of a major body of sculptural ceramics developed over two years by Māori artist Maia Kreisler.
Ko te Pūtake o te Aho stands as a central pou within this body of work — an anchor in both scale and symbolism. The vessel’s form draws from ceremonial waewae and wharenui silhouettes, asserting its presence with a quiet authority. The silver-painted kōwhaiwhai pattern encircles the body like a karakia in motion, referencing the genealogical spirals of whakapapa and the continual movement of time. The two spherical forms at the vessel’s shoulders gesture toward celestial bodies — atua or tīpuna — watching over and entwined with us. These mirrored orbs reflect back the viewer’s gaze, situating them within the work’s cosmological field.
Rendered through pit firing and hand-carving, the textured surface carries the scars and residue of fire, reinforcing its role as both an object of ritual and passive resistance. This piece, like many in this series, resists simple readings. It is not made to be explained but felt — to be approached as a vessel that holds mauri, memory, and speculative futures.
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Maia Kreisler is a cross-disciplinary Māori artist whose practice explores the human condition and our complex relationship with the environment, with a primary focus on value creation through art. Working predominantly with uku (clay), Maia has exhibited both nationally and internationally for over twenty years.
Maia holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts (Honours) from Massey University, Wellington, and a Diploma in Māori Art and Design, awarded in 2017 after studying under renowned Māori uku master, Wi Taepa. Her artworks are held in esteemed public and private collections, including Peter McLeavey Gallery, the Wallace Arts Trust, Wellington Museum, Puke Ariki Museum, the Wellington City Art Collection, and The Dowse Art Museum. In addition to her artistic practice, Maia has held roles within government and local councils, representing her hapū and iwi.
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Ka Mua, Ka Muri - Walking Backwards into the Future
June 19 – July 26
Ka Mua, Ka Muri — Walking Backwards into the Future — is a powerful Māori concept that acknowledges the past as a guiding force. We move forward with our backs to the future, eyes fixed on what has come before. The works reflect this ideology, drawing strength and insight from memory, tradition, and ancestral wisdom. Black silhouettes evoke timeless human forms, while intricate kowhaiwhai patterns flow across them, symbolising genealogy, continuity, and the ever-present influence of whakapapa.
Read more about the exhibition here:
Material: Pit fired ceramic, silver-painted text
Dimensions: 27 x 46cm
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