Te Rongo Kirkwood – Artist in Residence

June 2021

Kia whakatōmurite haerewhakamua - I walk backwards into the future

New Zealand Glassworks is excited to welcome Te Rongo Kirkwood as the first recipient of the NZG Glass Residency this June. During the month long residency, Kirkwood will be creating a series of blown glass pieces inspired by the gourd form. The gourd or hue was modified by Maori for both mundane and ritualistic purposes. Kirkwood said "The residency provides the opportunity to evolve and express traditional maori symbolism into a new contemporary language through blown glass. I’m interested in creating layers of meaning in these vessels so that I can imbue the vessel with an intentional sacredness and shift it into a form for contemplation and ritual".

Auckland-based artist, Te Rongo Kirkwood has been working in glass for 15 years and regularly exhibits within New Zealand and abroad. She is a three-time finalist in the prestigious Ranamok Glass Awards, and her work sits in the private collection of the Awards’ founder. Her work is held in public and private collections internationally.

There will be an artist talk at the Sarjeant gallery on Thursday the 24th of June from 7.30pm. Te Rongo Kirkwood will hold a glass workshop at NZG on the 9th of October and an exhibition of her works will be on display over summer -details TBC.

"I found Te Rongo Kirkwood’s application to be innovative, interesting and a great departure from her existing work. Toi Maori and tikanga will be a great aspect for NZ Glass and wider Glass sector to experience and support. With her great skills I believe Te Rongo will present an interesting new body of work and this will be a great asset for inspiration for wider art sector." Leanne Williams - Selection Panelist

New Zealand Glassworks would like to give special thanks to Creative New Zealand and GasNet for their support and to Michael Richardson for his patronage of the NZG Glass Residency.