Original Artwork by Paora Tiatoa
Edition: 1/1
Material: Screen print and ink on paper
Dimensions: 1500×1060mm Unframed
Year: 2021
ACMA (Abstract Contemporary Māori Artist)
Paora Tiatoa (Ngāti Whakaue, Ngāti Pikiao) is a contemporary Māori artist now based in Mount Maunganui. He is known for his bold, expressive works that merge tradition with modernity. Over the past decade, Paora has developed and mastered his signature multi-pass screen-printing technique - a meticulous, layered process that allows colour, texture, and energy to build in powerful, unexpected ways.
Much of his recent work continues a long-standing exploration of taonga Māori that is housed at the British Museum. During a trip to the British Museum in 2024, Paora viewed significant taonga in person. Rather than recreating these objects literally, Paora responds to them intuitively - abstracting, reinterpreting, and honouring their forms through a contemporary lens.
Paora creates from the heart. His process is instinctive rather than symbolic, and he doesn’t aim to embed overly complex narratives into each piece. Instead, he focuses on rhythm, movement, and feeling - allowing the mana of the taonga he references to guide the work in its own way. The result is a striking body of one-of-one prints that feel both modern and deeply connected to whakapapa, bridging past and present with vibrancy and respect.
Original Artwork by Paora Tiatoa
Edition: 1/1
Material: Screen print and ink on paper
Dimensions: 1500×1060mm Unframed
Year: 2021
ACMA (Abstract Contemporary Māori Artist)
Paora Tiatoa (Ngāti Whakaue, Ngāti Pikiao) is a contemporary Māori artist now based in Mount Maunganui. He is known for his bold, expressive works that merge tradition with modernity. Over the past decade, Paora has developed and mastered his signature multi-pass screen-printing technique - a meticulous, layered process that allows colour, texture, and energy to build in powerful, unexpected ways.
Much of his recent work continues a long-standing exploration of taonga Māori that is housed at the British Museum. During a trip to the British Museum in 2024, Paora viewed significant taonga in person. Rather than recreating these objects literally, Paora responds to them intuitively - abstracting, reinterpreting, and honouring their forms through a contemporary lens.
Paora creates from the heart. His process is instinctive rather than symbolic, and he doesn’t aim to embed overly complex narratives into each piece. Instead, he focuses on rhythm, movement, and feeling - allowing the mana of the taonga he references to guide the work in its own way. The result is a striking body of one-of-one prints that feel both modern and deeply connected to whakapapa, bridging past and present with vibrancy and respect.
