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Scoop
05-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Scoop
Māori-Greek Artist Takes A Slice Of Aotearoa To The Big Apple
, Henare te Ua Māori Journalism Intern They say there's nothing you can't do when you're in New York, which is spot on for a Māori-Greek artist who got to witness his work light up Manhattan. Jimmy James Kouratoras' Hei Tiki - For the Love of Our Ancestors painting is currently being shown in New York's Theatre District as a part of the Sacred Origins exhibition at Jutta Gallery, and it has featured on a 10-metre high digital billboard. "It was like sending a message from the ancestors straight into the heart of one of the world's busiest cities," he said. It is the artist's first showing in the art capital since 2015, when an older piece was exhibited at the Agora Gallery. Every brushstroke is a salute to his Māori and Greek whakapapa. His new piece brings "heavens, the earth, nature, and the human realm in close quarters with each other" and his tīpuna are portrayed as elements of nature. "As an artist, most of my work happens in solitude, in deep connection with ancestry, whenua, and wairua. So to have that work seen and recognised on an international stage is a privilege." The Waikato-Tainui and Cretan Greek tāne has also been named a finalist in this year's National Contemporary Art Award. Hosted by Te Whare Taonga o Waikato Museum and Gallery, the competition had a record 480 entries shortlisted to just 53 artists. The exhibition will run from 1 August to 16 November and the winners will be announced on 31 July. "This acknowledgement isn't just about me - it's about the kaupapa, the stories of our tīpuna, the layers of whakapapa, and the ongoing journey of transformation through art," Kouratoras said. He never took the usual art school route, but naturally draws from his bloodline to create contemporary artwork that every so often aligns with socio-political topics. "I work through karakia, through intuition. The studio becomes a sacred space here, the invisible mechanics of the universe begin to take shape." As a part of his solo exhibition, Kouratoras' latest creation is dedicated to the sacred rhythms of the Maramataka, or the traditional Māori lunar calendar. Matariki Sacred Waters - Where Land Meets the Sky, accompanied by 14 paintings and seven Pou sculptures, is now showing at Franklin Arts Centre in Pukekohe.
RNZ News
03-07-2025
- Entertainment
- RNZ News
Māori-Greek artist takes a slice of Aotearoa to the Big Apple
Jimmy James Kouratoras has two decades of experience in the film industry as a scenic artist and 12 years as a solo artist. Photo: Supplied They say there's nothing you can't do when you're in New York, which is spot on for a Māori-Greek artist who got to witness his work light up Manhattan. Jimmy James Kouratoras' Hei Tiki - For the Love of Our Ancestors painting is currently being shown in New York's Theatre District as a part of the Sacred Origins exhibition at Jutta Gallery, and it has featured on a 10-metre high digital billboard. "It was like sending a message from the ancestors straight into the heart of one of the world's busiest cities," he said. It is the artist's first showing in the art capital since 2015, when an older piece was exhibited at the Agora Gallery. Hei Tiki - for the love of our ancestors painting on a digital billboard in Manhattan Photo: supplied Every brushstroke is a salute to his Māori and Greek whakapapa. His new piece brings "heavens, the earth, nature, and the human realm in close quarters with each other" and his tīpuna are portrayed as elements of nature. "As an artist, most of my work happens in solitude, in deep connection with ancestry, whenua, and wairua. So to have that work seen and recognised on an international stage is a privilege." The Waikato-Tainui and Cretan Greek tāne has also been named a finalist in this year's National Contemporary Art Award. Hosted by Te Whare Taonga o Waikato Museum and Gallery, the competition had a record 480 entries shortlisted to just 53 artists. The exhibition will run from 1 August to 16 November and the winners will be announced on 31 July. "This acknowledgement isn't just about me - it's about the kaupapa, the stories of our tīpuna, the layers of whakapapa, and the ongoing journey of transformation through art," Kouratoras said. The painting, Hei Tiki - For the Love of Our Ancestors, is currenting showing in New York City. (This image has been rotated) Photo: supplied He never took the usual art school route, but naturally draws from his bloodline to create contemporary artwork that every so often aligns with socio-political topics. "I work through karakia, through intuition. The studio becomes a sacred space here, the invisible mechanics of the universe begin to take shape." As a part of his solo exhibition, Kouratoras' latest creation is dedicated to the sacred rhythms of the Maramataka, or the traditional Māori lunar calendar. Matariki Sacred Waters - Where Land Meets the Sky , accompanied by 14 paintings and seven Pou sculptures, is now showing at Franklin Arts Centre in Pukekohe. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
Scoop
29-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Scoop
From Aotearoa To New York: Maori-Greek Artist Triumphs
Becoming a national contemporary art award finalist, seeing his work projected on a massive New York City billboard, and launching a new solo exhibition,acclaimed Aotearoa artist Jimmy James Kouratoras has plenty to celebrate this month. His painting, Hei Tiki – For the Love of Our Ancestors, is being displayed in New York City as part of the Sacred Origins exhibition at Jutta Gallery, marking the Māori-Greek artist's first showing in the art capital since 2015. In a career milestone, recently, Hei Tiki was displayed on a towering 10-metre digital billboard in Manhattan's Theatre District. 'It was like sending a message from the ancestors straight into the heart of one of the world's busiest cities,' says Kouratoras. Known for merging Māori and Greek histories, Kouratoras continues to explore ancestral heritage through his contemporary paintings. 'As an artist, most of my work happens in solitude, in deep connection with ancestry, whenua, and wairua. So to have that work seen and recognised on an international stage is a privilege.' His return to New York isn't the only highlight this year. Kouratoras (Tainui Waikato, Ngāti Tīpā Waikato, Crete, Greece) has also been named a finalist in the 2025 National Contemporary Art Award, shortlisted among 53 artists from 480 entries. Presented by Waikato Museum to showcase the cutting edge of New Zealand contemporary art, the venue will present the work from all finalists for four months from August. 'This acknowledgement isn't just about me – it's about the kaupapa: the stories of our tīpuna, the layers of whakapapa, and the ongoing journey of transformation through art.' Auckland art lovers can experience Kouratoras' latest work at his solo exhibition Matariki Sacred Waters – Where Land Meets the Sky, now showing at Franklin Arts Centre in Pukekohe. Alongside the 14 paintings are seven Pou sculptures – with this new body of work inspired by the sacred rhythms of the Maramataka – the Māori lunar calendar – and the annual rising of Matariki. 'I work through karakia, through intuition. The studio becomes a sacred space where the invisible mechanics of the universe begin to take shape.' Matariki Sacred Waters is at the Steel Gallery, Franklin Arts Centre, Pukekohe, until August 2nd.
Scoop
29-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Scoop
From Aotearoa To New York: Maori-Greek Artist Triumphs
Becoming a national contemporary art award finalist, seeing his work projected on a massive New York City billboard, and launching a new solo exhibition, acclaimed Aotearoa artist Jimmy James Kouratoras has plenty to celebrate this month. His painting, Hei Tiki – For the Love of Our Ancestors, is being displayed in New York City as part of the Sacred Origins exhibition at Jutta Gallery, marking the Māori-Greek artist's first showing in the art capital since 2015. In a career milestone, recently, Hei Tiki was displayed on a towering 10-metre digital billboard in Manhattan's Theatre District. 'It was like sending a message from the ancestors straight into the heart of one of the world's busiest cities,' says Kouratoras. Known for merging Māori and Greek histories, Kouratoras continues to explore ancestral heritage through his contemporary paintings. 'As an artist, most of my work happens in solitude, in deep connection with ancestry, whenua, and wairua. So to have that work seen and recognised on an international stage is a privilege.' His return to New York isn't the only highlight this year. Kouratoras (Tainui Waikato, Ngāti Tīpā Waikato, Crete, Greece) has also been named a finalist in the 2025 National Contemporary Art Award, shortlisted among 53 artists from 480 entries. Presented by Waikato Museum to showcase the cutting edge of New Zealand contemporary art, the venue will present the work from all finalists for four months from August. 'This acknowledgement isn't just about me - it's about the kaupapa: the stories of our tīpuna, the layers of whakapapa, and the ongoing journey of transformation through art.' Auckland art lovers can experience Kouratoras' latest work at his solo exhibition Matariki Sacred Waters – Where Land Meets the Sky, now showing at Franklin Arts Centre in Pukekohe. Alongside the 14 paintings are seven Pou sculptures - with this new body of work inspired by the sacred rhythms of the Maramataka - the Māori lunar calendar - and the annual rising of Matariki. 'I work through karakia, through intuition. The studio becomes a sacred space where the invisible mechanics of the universe begin to take shape.' Matariki Sacred Waters is at the Steel Gallery, Franklin Arts Centre, Pukekohe, until August 2nd.
