#lfestyle: Māori artists to showcase contemporary toi at Venice Biennale in landmark international project

A major international arts project will see four Māori artists take their work to one of the world’s most prestigious cultural events, with a new initiative positioning Aotearoa’s contemporary Māori art on the global stage.

Led by Te Tuhi, the project Paerangi: Venice will bring together artists John Turi-Tiakitai, Kereama Taepa, Neke Moa, and Suzanne Tamaki for a series of collaborative and individual art activations in Venice during the 61st Venice Biennale.

The project will take place over a two-week period spanning April and May 2026, culminating in a series of site-responsive works presented during the Biennale’s vernissage and public opening weekend. Based on page 1 of the media release, the artists will come together to wānanga, share knowledge, and create work within a unique international context.

Developed in partnership with CREA Cantieri del Contemporaneo on Venice’s Giudecca Island, the initiative builds on earlier collaboration under Paerangi: Waipawa in Central Hawke’s Bay. The Venice project extends that kaupapa into an international setting, focusing on cultural exchange, artistic collaboration, and community engagement.

The concept of Paerangi reflects ideas of horizon and potential, signalling both the physical journey to Venice and the broader opportunities for Māori artists to engage with global audiences. The project offers participating artists their first experience of the Venice Biennale, widely regarded as the world’s largest and most influential contemporary art exhibition.

Each artist brings a distinct practice grounded in te ao Māori while engaging with contemporary forms. The works will span a range of mediums including raranga, performance, adornment, sculpture, oral storytelling, and digital and augmented reality elements, creating multiple entry points for international audiences to experience Māori perspectives.

Page 2 of the release highlights the growing global recognition of toi Māori, following the impact of Māori artists at previous Venice Biennale events. The 2026 project is positioned as an opportunity to further strengthen that presence and deepen relationships between Aotearoa and the international art community.

The participating artists represent a wide range of iwi and creative disciplines. Their work collectively reflects both the continuity of traditional practices and the evolution of Māori art through innovation and technology, reinforcing the dynamic nature of contemporary Indigenous expression.

The project has been supported by Creative New Zealand alongside private backing, underscoring the importance of sustained investment in Māori arts at an international level.

With Paerangi: Venice, the focus is not only on showcasing art, but on creating space for dialogue, connection, and shared learning, positioning Māori artists at the forefront of global contemporary practice while remaining grounded in whakapapa, tikanga, and community.