Artist profiles

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.

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

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. 

Remembering those in the Aotearoa New Zealand and Pacific art world

Artist biographies on Collections Online

Find out about artists in our collection from Aotearoa New Zealand and the world.