Gabrielle Belz
"My work speaks of the land and the world around us, our connections and responsibilities toward them."
Gabrielle is of Ngapuhi and Te Atiawa descent.
Born in 1947 in Papakura, Gabrielle grew up in Manurewa in Manukau City. Later on, she lived in Taranaki and then Whanganui, practising as a painter and printmaker. Gabrielle tutored in both disciplines and supervised a number of community mural projects.
She is currently a full time artist, working as a painter, printmaker, and designer, based in Auckland. She has served on 'Pukeko' an Arts Advisory Group to Manukau City Council, and is the designer of public artwork at Mangere East Library, Manukau; the Glenn Innes Shopping Centre, Auckland; and the nocturnal house, Whare Mahina at Wellington Zoo. As well as being a foundation member of Kauwae, the national Maori women's exhibiting collective and a long-serving member and former secretary of Nga Puna Waihanga (the national Maori Artists and Writers Association), Gabrielle is currently chairperson of Te Atinga, Contemporary Visual Arts Committee of Toi Maori Aotearoa.
Select exhibitions
- 2006 'Manawa - Pacific Heartbeat' group exhibition, Spirit Wrestler Gallery, Vancouver, Canada
- 2004 'Whenua - born of the land' group exhibition, Tinakori Gallery, Wellington
- 2001 'Beyond Tradition' Te Atinga exhibition during 'Te Ihi, Te Wehi', Rotorua Festival of Arts, Rotorua.
- 'Awataha Festival' exhibition of artwork by local and nationally recognised artists held at Awataha Marae, Auckland
- 'E Tu te Maota - The Green Sapling Stands' solo exhibition at Kura Gallery, Wellington.
- 'Women's Business' group exhibition with Tandanya Artists and Kauwae group at Whakarewarewa Gallery, Rotorua.
- 'Matariki 2001' group exhibition with Putake Artists and Waiheke group, Te Taumata Art Gallery, Auckland.
Links
Gabrielle Belz Artist Profile on the toi iho™ website.
Whenua - born of the land exhibition, 2004
Lane Gallery, in Auckland
Spirit Wrestler Gallery, Vancouver, Canada
John Royal Gallery, New York, USA