Zena Elliott Explained

Zena Elliott (born 1975) is a New Zealand artist. Their works are held in the collection of Auckland Art Gallery and Waikato Museum.^{[1] [2]} Elliott is affiliated with Ngāti Awa, Te Whānau-ā-Apanui, Ngāti Rangitihi, Ngāi Te Rangi and Te Arawa.

Biography

Elliott was born in Whakatāne in 1975, and raised in Te Teko. They started their art practice in the 1990s. Elliott completed their Master of Visual Arts with Distinction at WINTEC in 2006, and a Bachelor of Māori Art (Whakairo) at Te Wānanga o Aotearoa.^[3]

Elliott's paintings reflect references to their whakapapa with influences from abstract, stencil and street art. Inspirations include mid-20th-century abstract paintings of Bridget Riley and Frank Stella.^[4]

Elliott's work explores themes of gender fluidity, visibility, cultural identity and popular culture. Their work is vibrant and lively, and Elliott has been incorporating fluorescent, glow-in-the-dark and neon colours into their work since the mid-1990s.^[5]

Elliott's partner Tia Barrett is also an artist, and the two have exhibited works together.^[6]

Exhibitions

Solo:

• Haukura/Neon Voice: Recent works by Zena Elliott, Waikato Museum, 2016^[7]
• Ripekanga/Intersections, Milford Galleries, 2017^[8]
• Whanonga Pono, Rotorua Arts Village, 2019^[9]

Group:

• Neoteric, Whitespace, 2004^[10]
• The Inimitable Mr. Hopkins, Waikato Museum, 2008
• Got it Sussed, Whakatane Museum and Gallery, 2008
• Tānikokiko, Māngere Arts Centre - Ngā Tohu o Uenuku, 2017^[11]
• Frankton, Skinroom Gallery, 2020^[12]
• Toi Tū Toi Ora, Auckland Art Gallery, 2020-21^[13]
• Āniwaniwa, Wormhole, 2022^[14]
• Zena Elliott & Tia Barrett: Muramura of Protest, Depot Artspace, 2023^[15]

Notes and References

1. Web site: Zena Elliott . 2023-08-18 . Auckland Art Gallery . en.
2. Web site: Zena Elliott . 2023-08-18 . Waikato Museum . en.
3. Web site: 2009-04-29 . Wintec commissions local artist . The Big Idea.
4. Web site: Flow . 2023-08-18 . Auckland Art Gallery . en.
5. Web site: Zena Elliott & Tia Barrett: Muramura of Protest - Depot . 2023-08-18 . depot.org.nz . en-US.
6. Web site: Te Ao Māori . 2023-08-18 . Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu . en-NZ.
7. Web site: Haukura/Neon Voice: Recent works by Zena Elliott - Waikato Museum . 2023-08-18 . waikatomuseum.co.nz.
8. Web site: 2017-06-29 . Art Seen: June 29 . 2023-08-18 . Otago Daily Times Online News . en.
9. Web site: 2023-08-18 . Ancestry and identity inspire Rotorua art exhibition . 2023-08-18 . NZ Herald . en-NZ.
10. Web site: 2004-02-06 . Neoteric at Whitespace . The Big Idea.
11. Web site: Artist Zena Elliott and Tānikoniko exhibition . 2023-08-18 . Te Ao Māori News . en.
12. Web site: 2020-02-17 . Quite frankly my dear, Frankton is where it’s at . The Big Idea.
13. Web site: Toi Tū Toi Ora Artist Profile: Zena Elliott . 2023-08-18 . Auckland Art Gallery . en.
14. Web site: Āniwaniwa Wormhole Gallery and Studio Edgecumbe . 2023-08-18 . Wormhole . en.
15. Web site: Collaborative, Multidisciplinary Exhibitions Platform Four Wāhine Artists Scoop News . 2023-08-18 . www.scoop.co.nz.