About Tamar

 

Kia Ora, I'm Tamar a contemporary Māori artist. I was born and raised in Whakatane but now reside in Tāmaki Makaurau.

I whakapapa to  Ngāti Awa, Te Arawa, Ngāi Tahu & Ngāti Kahungunu 

After 11 years in Australia, moving home to Aotearoa in 2020 set me on a journey to begin to connect more to my Māoritanga and who I am as a wahine Māori. Part of this journey has led me to learn different Toi Māori patterns and create mahi toi that I love

I’m inspired by geometric shapes, the female form, architecture, interior design and various Toi Māori such as tukutuku, kowhaiwhai, tāniko, and whakairo patterns which are seen throughout my creations. These elements allow me to express my cultural identity while developing my own unique style

My creative process starts with karakia and waiata, creating space for wairua tapu to guide me to interpret what I sense onto paper. Whether that's capturing the emotions of life's ups and downs or the intricacies of human connections, each piece is crafted with its future home and owner in mind