Maia Kreisler
Maia Kreisler — 'Tū' (To Stand / Soldier), 2025
This work forms part of a major body of sculptural ceramics developed over two years by Māori artist Maia Kreisler.
Tū stands upright, alert, and grounded — a compact form that feels as though it might take a step forward. It draws from a lineage of earlier works created during the artist’s time at Te Wānanga o Aotearoa, under the guidance of Wi Taepa. The echoes of those early explorations are not copied but remembered, reformed, and honoured.
The silver kōwhaiwhai markings trace a vertical path across the surface like a cloak or a spine, suggesting both adornment and structure. There is a wabi-sabi sensibility to the form — its rough texture, its asymmetry, and its quiet insistence on being exactly as it is. No polish, no pretence. Just presence.
Part vessel, part sentinel, Tū marches forward — not alone, but carrying the memory of hands, teachers, and clay.
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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 surface
Dimensions: 30 x 13cm
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