Te Ara i Whiti Artist Feature – Steve

Steve Gibbs

Ngāi Tāmanuhiri

Steve Gibbs is a teacher and a practicing visual artist specialising in painting and the education of kōwhaiwhai. He is an associate professor at Toihoukura, School of Māori Visual Arts and Design in the Te Hono ki Toi – Master of Creative Practice postgraduate programme. Steve is currently wrapping up his PhD research into hoe waka as the earliest examples of what we now call
kōwhaiwhai.

His recent exhibitions include Te Hoe Nukuroa: The long stroke of the paddles that have traversed the globe PhD Doctorate Exhibition, Maia Gallery, Toihoukura, Gisborne (2021). Toi Tū Toi Ora: 30-year Survey of Contemporary Māori Art Auckland City Gallery, Auckland (2021). Ko wai! ‘I am from the water’ A collaborative iwi exhibition featuring Maia Gibbs, Maia Keane, Jual Toroa and Kataarena Kerekere at Hoea! Gallery and Project Space in Gisborne (2021). Tū Te Whaihanga ‘a recognition of creative genius’ exhibition designer and co-curator at Tairāwhiti Museum, Gisborne (2019), and Rangiwaho – Ihu ki te Moana, a curatorial installation at national maritime museum in Greenwich, London (2019).

Te Ara i Whiti

Steve is one of our twelve exhibiting artists for Te Ara i Whiti 2021.

Steve presents Manawa Rārangi, the pulsing heartbeat running alongside the Taruheru River, connecting his research of hoe and kōwhaiwhai to the awa of this place.