Chris Bryant
Chris Bryant is of Ngati Porou descent and currently teaches at Toimairangi, Te Wananga o Aotearoa in Heretaunga / Hastings, New Zealand.
“.. there is a current lack of Māori art historians publishing scholarship regarding our taonga tuku iho and our mahi toi of today. Māori artists are still at the forefront of the thrust and parry …”
Bryant, C. Te Mauri o te Rākau Kōrero – Talking Between the Posts
[In] Anderson, P. [Ed] (2008) Faking It: A Re-visitation of Postmodernism, Taradale: EIT & Hastings Art Gallery, p.30
Brief biography
Chris (Karaitiana) Bryant is of Ngāti Porou descent, born in 1970 and raised in Napier.
He is a recipient of the Queen Elizabeth II Hawke's Bay Art Award, 1993 and the Mary Vigor Brown Trust Award, 1996.
Chris graduated with a Bachelor of Fine Arts from Te Toi Hou, Elam School of Fine Arts, University of Auckland in 1994.
While in Auckland he became a founding member of Te Taumata Art Gallery.
Upon returning home, Chris has contributed to the establishment of Pukemokimoki Marae in Maraenui, Napier.
He is a practising artist, curator, art commentator and art educator. Chris currently teaches alongside Sandy Adsett at Toimairangi, Te Wānanga o Aotearoa in Hastings.
Chris has graduated with a Master of Māori Visual Arts from Te Pūtahi a Toi – Māori Studies, Massey University, Palmerston North in 2008.
Since his appointment in 1993, Chris continues to serve on Te Atinga to become the current Pouwhakahaere.
Selected exhibitions
2008 Ahuriri and the Sublime Ripple, Hawke’s Bay Museum & Art Gallery, Napier
2005 Manawa: Pacific Heartbeat, Spirit Wrestler Gallery, Vancouver, British Columbia
2002 Taiawhio: Continuity and Change, Te Papa : Museum of New Zealand, Wellington
1999 Nga Korero Aoteatea : Living Our Stories, Dowse Art Museum, Wellington
1993 Ngati Porou Traditional & Contemporary Art Exhibition,
Ngata Memorial College, Ruatoria
1991 Kia Tuoho Me Maunga Teitei - In Pursuit of Excellence, Te Taumata Art Gallery, Auckland
1990 Kohia Ko Taikaka Anake, National Art Gallery, Wellington
Publications
Hakaraia, L. & Waata-Urlich, C. (2008) Te Kahui o Matariki: Contemporary Maori art of Matariki, Auckland: Penguin
Smith, H. [Ed] et al (2007) Taiawhio II: Contemporary Maori artists – 18 new conversations, Wellington: Te Papa Press
Reading, N. & Wyatt, G. (2006) Manawa – Pacific Heartbeat, Vancouver,
British Columbia : Douglas & McIntyre
Kiwa Productions (2006) Te Kete Aronui: Chris Bryant, DVD, Auckland: Kiwa Productions
Toi Maori Aotearoa & Tinakori Gallery (2004) He Rere Kee – Taking Flight,
Wellington: Toi Maori Aotearoa
Ihimaera, W. & Ellis, N. [Ed] (2002) “Te Ata: Maori Art from the East Coast, New Zealand” Auckland: Reed Books
Kedgley, H. [Ed] (2002) The Koru & Kowhaiwhai : Contemporary Renaissance of
Kowhaiwhai Painting, Wellington: Pataka Porirua Museum of Arts and Cultures
Pitts, P. (1998) Contemporary New Zealand Sculpture, Auckland: David Bateman
Ihimaera, W. [Ed] (1997) Mataora: The Living Face, Auckland: David Bateman
Links
Chris Bryant, one of the artists in the 'Out of The Blue' exhibition that featured the work of 18 Maori and Pacific Island artists from Aotearoa.