The photographs of Marti Friedlander (1928–2016)
Friedlander was particularly renowned for her portraits of artists in the 1960s and 1970s, and for her images of the last Māori women to have received the chin moko in a customary manner.
Artist profiles
Read about artists, photographers, and tohunga mahi toi and their works in our collection.
Nancy Adams: Botanist and artist
Nancy Adams (1926–2007) was one of Aotearoa New Zealand’s most notable botanists and a talented artist. One of Te Papa’s most prolific botany collectors of all time, she also painted and drew an incredible number of botanical illustrations. She used her artwork to produce important books about Aotearoa New Zealand’s flora, including seaweeds, flowers, trees, and alpine plants.
Rita Angus: Artist
Rita Angus produced a remarkable body of drawings, watercolours, and paintings. A committed feminist, and a pacifist, Angus’ work was deeply entwined with her view of the world, creating a unique image of 20th-century Aotearoa New Zealand.
Lisa Walker: Artist and jeweller
Iconoclastic and irreverent, Walker challenges traditional notions about jewellery, and questions what it is and can be.
Nike Savvas and Finale : Bouquet
Find out about leading contemporary Australian artist Nike Savvas and her exhibition Finale: Bouquet at Te Papa in 2019.
Eric Lee-Johnson’s night sky photography
New Zealand artist and photographer Eric Lee-Johnson used light in interesting ways in his photography. Here is a selection of images he created in the 1950s.
Photographer: Ans Westra
Dutch-born New Zealand photographer Ans Westra is known for her black-and-white documentary photography of the people of Aotearoa New Zealand, including protests and marches, Māori communities, street photography, and industrial scenes.
Robin White: Artist
Dame Robin White (Ngāti Awa, Pākehā) is one of Aotearoa New Zealand’s most loved living contemporary artists. For over fifty years, Robin White has portrayed people and their environments in Aotearoa New Zealand, Kiribati, Fiji, Tonga, and beyond.
Artist biographies on Collections Online
Find out about artists in our collection from Aotearoa New Zealand and the world.
