Helena Skerjl-Rovers is an emerging multi-disciplinary artist based in Tāmaki Makaurau, Auckland. Since graduating in 2021 with a BFA (hons) from Elam School of Fine Arts, Helena's continued work has largely been driven by an exploration of colour and gesture. More recently expanding from her painting practice into textiles and soft materials, Helena has drawn her life-long love of craft and handwork into her work in the form of tufted rugs.

Sharon Duymel (b. 1971, Utrecht, The Netherlands) is an Pauanui based artist who completed her MFA at Whitecliffe in 2022. Her practice explores the complexities of internal experience and female agency, often expressed through the female form. From a feminist perspective, she investigates the tension of voicelessness and identity through the body as a site of psychological expression.

Judi Bagust is a contemporary painter whose work draws on a deep connection to heritage, environment, and gestural mark making. A fifthgeneration artist with a Master of Fine Arts from Whitecliffe, her fluid ink compositions explore rhythm, movement, and place. Her practice blends visual art and poetry, inspired by workshops with Anthony Joseph and mentorship from Max Gimblett. Judi’s work has been featured in major commissions and been widely exhibited.

Kate Cox is an abstract painter known for her large-scale works and abstract landscapes in acrylic, oil, and pastel. Raised in the seaside suburbs of Auckland, she now lives in a character-filled villa in Kerikeri, balancing family life with a full-time art practice. With a background in commercial interiors and a Bachelor of Design, she pursued fine art through courses and mentoring. Her work has earned recognition as a finalist in both the Walker & Hall Waiheke Art Award and the Estuary Art and Ecology Award.

Chloe Streeter has been creating since she could hold a paintbrush. A lifelong passion for art was rekindled after a career in nursing, leading her to complete a certificate at The Learning Connexion in 2024. Since then, she’s been painting with renewed purpose, drawn to the expressive possibilities of semi-abstract figurative work.

Chloe’s art is a playful yet thoughtful exploration of the human experience. Through a charmingly naïve style and a vivid, saturated colour palette, she brings warmth and sincerity to themes that often reflect life’s deeper emotional layers.

When she’s not in the studio, Chloe finds joy in her garden and the everyday moments with her young family, both of which continue to inspire her creative journey.

Naomi Faifai is a self-taught artist based in Timaru. From an early age, she felt an innate drive to create, constantly experimenting with different processes and materials—often using whatever was available at the time. This curiosity and resourcefulness have shaped her distinctive artistic approach.

Naomi’s work is rooted in mixed media, with a particular love for inks. She is drawn to their fluidity and unpredictability, embracing the organic movement and spontaneous outcomes they offer. Her creative process is intuitive, allowing each piece to evolve naturally.

Deeply influenced by her Samoan and Māori heritage, Naomi’s art reflects elements of Siapo (traditional tapa cloth) patterns, cultural motifs, and the beauty found in everyday moments. She infuses her work with a sense of playfulness, never taking herself—or the artistic process—too seriously. This lighthearted energy brings a unique vibrancy to her pieces, making them both engaging and dynamic.

Through her art, Naomi invites viewers to embrace spontaneity, find joy in imperfection, and connect with the cultural narratives woven into her work.