Pioneering Māori Artist Fred Graham Laid To Rest

Fred Graham, a pioneer of contemporary Māori art, has passed away at 97, surrounded by his whānau. Born in Arapuni, Waikato, and of Ngāti Korokī Kahukura and Tainui descent, he played a key role in modern Māori art in Aotearoa. He co-organised the influential exhibition “The Class of ’66” and was known for his iconic…


Fred Graham, a pioneer of contemporary Māori art, has passed away at 97, surrounded by his whānau. Born in Arapuni, Waikato, and of Ngāti Korokī Kahukura and Tainui descent, he played a key role in modern Māori art in Aotearoa.

He co-organised the influential exhibition “The Class of ’66” and was known for his iconic sculptures, such as “Kaitiaki,” in Auckland. Graham was named an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit in 2018 and was buried over the weekend.

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