14 Nights on the Matua - A Solo Show by Naomi Faifai

Marlborough-based emerging artist Naomi Faifai will be presenting her first solo at our Herne Bay gallery, opening 18 November. All works shown are new, with exclusive representation at The Frame Workshop & Gallery nationwide.

Naomi is self-taught, having grown up with art in her home with her own mother a practising artist.

Drawing on her Samoan/Māori (Rāngitane o Wairau) heritage she explores personal cultural influences such as Siapo (tapa cloth), as well as the everyday rituals of life. Cars, flowers, dogs and houses are recurring motifs in her work, brought to life in signature bright and bold colours. 

The exhibition, 14 Nights on the Matua, is inspired by her grandfather's immigration to New Zealand, which took 14 nights on a banana boat named the Matua. His journey from Upolu, Samoa (Savaia, Lefaga Village) to landing in Auckland in 1959 is examined in this latest series of works.

Naomi will be at the opening of the show and in addition to the exhibition, there will be a ‘meet the artist’ event on Saturday 19 November from 10am-2pm.