Artists
Wood Sculptor / Wood Turner
Shannon Turuwhenua
Shannon Turuwhenua is an award-winning wood sculptor based in North Waikato, Aotearoa (New Zealand). Drawing deeply from his Māori (Tūhoe), Scottish, and Irish descent, his work is a powerful exploration of heritage and identity. His process is intrinsically linked to the land, beginning with the mindful sourcing of native and exotic timbers from across the country. Whenever possible, Shannon uses reclaimed and recycled wood, ensuring every handcrafted piece carries an added layer of history and is truly unique. His work consistently explores themes of cultural transmission and sustainability.
Artist / Painter / Printmaker / Photographer
Nyle Turuwhenua
Nyle Turuwhenua’s work explores notions of whakapapa, connection, and mātauranga Māori. For Nyle, developing skills as a weaver has been an important catalyst in her personal and artistic growth, opening pathways to reflect on identity and cultural heritage. Her printmaking practice encapsulates ideas of kaitiakitanga, intergenerational knowledge, and ancestral connection through physical making.
In Nyle’s work, birds and weaving play a key role in the act of kaitiakitanga. Nyle values the tactile and the handmade, embracing the labour involved in printmaking and weaving. Both of these processes involve preparation, repeated actions, and physical dexterity, which sometimes leads to hands that are calloused and cut. For Nyle, art making is a labour of love, a journey of discovery, and a practice that fosters deep connections to self, others and whenua.