Maia Kreisler
Maia Kreisler — 'Taurite' (Balance), 2025
This work forms part of a major body of sculptural ceramics developed over two years by Māori artist Maia Kreisler.
Taurite is a small, leaning form — one that finds its strength in relationship. It nods toward Tū, not as a replica, but as a companion. Where Tū stands upright, this work inclines, rests, listens. Together, they hold a quiet conversation about presence, weight, and balance.
The silver line winding across the surface is a remembered kōwhaiwhai pattern — intuitive, ancestral, held in the artist’s hands like a familiar tune. It moves across the stacked pinch-formed shapes like a whispered whakapapa, recalling earlier studio explorations and playful humble, pinch pots.
At the top, a disc form turns outward — like a moon or an ear — echoing the gesture of leaning into others. Taurite is humble but deliberate. It reminds us that to lean is also to trust, and that memory often lives in the curve of a line.
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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: Handbuilt ceramic, black iron oxide, silver-painted kōwhaiwhai
Dimensions: 22 x 14cm
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