Porirua artist Jessica Metuariki announced as finalist in national art awards
15 Jul 2025, Rachel Healy
Pātaka Art+Museum Gallery Assistant is also an artist who spent over 100 hours creating "Te Va’a o te Moana" (2025), now a finalist in the National Contemporary Art Award. Jess spoke with Rachel Healy.
I didn’t believe it, to be honest. I looked at the email, and I thought, “Is this for real? Are they sure they’ve got the right person?!”
But more than anything, it was an honour to create Te Va’a o te Moana. It’s a series of three painted panels, each almost a metre in diameter, exploring cultural identity through a new world of pattern making.
Art has always been my passion, a means of expressing myself without boundaries. Growing up in Cook Island Māori, I was surrounded by creativity, from the vibrant colours and patterns of Tivaevae to carving, drawing and tatau (tattoo). It’s heartwarming to see my nieces and nephews now embracing their creativity and love for art.
I took every kind of art I could at Tawa College. But my love for art started even earlier; at Porirua school, we had a class trip to Pātaka. It was the first gallery I’d ever been to, and I still remember how much it opened my eyes and inspired me as a kid. Fast forward, I’ve come full circle now working at Pātaka. I am grateful to be part of an amazing and supportive team. It was my colleague, Natalie Brasell, who encouraged me to enter the National Contemporary Art Award.
Michel Tuffery has always been one of my inspirations, and I was fortunate to have the opportunity to assist him with the finer details of his mural at Kai Tahi, located over the road from Pātaka.
I chose AUT to do my Bachelor of Visual Arts, and I loved it. It was amazing to have my own studio for the first time, and while painting is where my heart is right now, I love exploring different mediums and methods, staying open to where the process might lead. I was briefly taught by Noora Tapuni – she was leading the paper in pattern systems, and even though my time in that class was brief, it had a big impact on me, helped shape the rest of my university journey and continues to influence my art practice today.
I was part of a small group of Pacific students at AUT associated with that paper and was fortunate to be mentored by John Vea and Uhila Nai; their support and guidance helped me throughout my time there. I’ve always felt connected to Pasifika patterns and motifs, the way they hold meaning and tell a story. Art school gave me a whole new perspective – it gave me space to explore cultural identity through a contemporary lens, using pattern as a language that speaks to both past, present and future.
Being a part of a team like Pātaka allows me to connect and support people, whether it’s offering a kind word, solving a problem or simply holding space when someone needs it. My heart has always been with my community. I believe that before you can lead, you must first learn to serve with humility, love, and care. Working at Pātaka allows me to live that out each day.
The winner of the 2025 National Contemporary Art Award will be announced on 31st July, with an exhibition of all the finalists opening at Te Whare Taonga o Waikato Museum and Gallery the following day.
