Artist Profile
Rueben Tipene
From a young age, Rueben loved drawing. One day, a Māori carver noticed his drawings and told him, “If you can draw, you can carve”. From that point on, he would carve anything he could get his hands on, from native wood to shells from the sea. Rueben has carved and painted murals, sculptures, weapons and ornaments, always with a strong design connection to his Māori heritage. Rueben now works from his home studio in Rangiora under the name Kewai Carvings. He has whakapapa (ancestral) connections to Ngāpuhi and Ngāi Tahu.
A selection of
Rueben's creations
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Artists
Akapita Scally
As a part of Rotorua’s carving industry for the past decade, Aka has had the privilege of working alongside some of the town’s finest pounamu artists. His designs are notable for their perfect lines and exemplary finishing, and he is particularly skilled at reflecting traditional forms whilst pushing contemporary boundaries. Akapita is from Ngāti Rangiwewehi, Ngāti Whakaue and Ngāti Rangitihi.
James Pirika
After finishing high school, James began his journey in the Mountain Jade studio, learning the foundations of his craft from Tamaora Walker. As an emerging artist finding his way in carving, James always finds it important to reflect on where he started, allowing him to stay humble while acknowledging Tamaora’s guidance throughout his journey. James is from Te Arawa, Ngāti Te Roro o Te Rangi.
