The Art of Sofia Tekela-Smith
Contemporary Rotuman Artists

 Sofia Tekela-Smith Home Page

I was born in Aotearoa, N.Z., to a Scottish father and Rotuman mother, and was raised by my grandparents, Mue Tekela and Sumasafu Petero, in Pepjei on a piece of land called Vakoi. My birth grandfather was Sau'itu from Juju (of the Tavo clan). He died well before I was born, so my grandmother remarried. I stayed in Rotuma till the early 80s when I returned to my parents in Auckland. I am very excited and inspired by my Polynesian heritage, and am proud to say that I can speak Rotuman.

I create work that represents my connection with my gramdmother. The materials I choose to work with are for me the most appropriate medium to reclaim and strengthen a cultural tie to my Rotuman heritage. My focus is on creating work that reflects and communicates a visual language of harmony, beauty, strength and spirit.
 
I live in Auckland with my beautiful son, Navakatoa, and my partner, John Pule a Niuean/NZ artist and writer. 


Selected Exhibitions:

2008 Grace,’ John Leech Gallery, Auckland.

2004 ‘Paradise Now? Contemporary Art from the Pacific’, Asia Society Gallery, New York

2002 ‘Perfumed Fragrances’, Mori Gallery, Sydney

2002 ‘Pacific Adornment’ Te Papa Tongarewa National Museum, Wellington, New Zealand

2002 ‘Pacific Bound’, 8th Pacific Festival of Arts, Noumea, New Caledonia

2002 'Untitled', Queensland Gallery of Modern Art

2001 1NS,2DM’s, Brisbane City Gallery, Brisbane, Australia

2001 ‘Neckware2’, Masterworks Gallery, Auckland New Zealand

2001 ‘Bodytalk’, Uxbridge Gallery, Auckland

2001 ‘Tefui’, solo, Compendium Gallery, Auckland

2001 ‘Tu Fa’atasi’, Fashion Extravaganza, Wellington International Festival of Arts, Wellington

2000 ‘Adornment Pacifique’, Territorial Museum, Noumea, New Caledonia

2000 ‘1 Noble Savage 2 Dusky Maidens’, New Work Studios, Wellington

2000 ‘1 Noble Savage 2 Dusky Maidens’, Jonathan Smart Gallery, Christchurch

2000 ‘Pinups’ Masterworks Gallery, Auckland

2000 ‘Prosperous Fragrances’ Compendium Gallery, Wellington International Festival of Arts, New Zealand

2000 ‘Tafa/Malika’with John Pule’, Jonathan Smart Gallery, Christchurch, New Zealand

2000 ‘Turangawaewae’, 3rd NZ Jewellery Biennial Hawkes Bay Exhibition Centre, Hawkes Bay

2000 ‘Motu Tangata’, with Pacific Sisters, 7th South Pacific Festival of Arts, Tusitala Hotel, Apia, Samoa

2000 ‘Heart of the Niu’, Artstation, Auckland

1999-2000 ‘Turangawaewae’, 3rd NZ Jewellery Biennial, Auckland Museum, New Zealand

1999 ‘1 Noble Savage, 2 Dusky Maidens’, Judith Anderson Gallery, Auckland, New Zealand

1999 ‘Small Sins’, New Works Gallery, Wellington

1999 ‘Adorned’, MacCleay Museum, Sydney

1999 ‘Neckware’, Masterworks Gallery, Auckland

1999 ‘Turangawaewae’, 3rd NZ Jewellery Biennial Dunedin Public Art Gallery

1999 ‘Raw Fishes’, The Physics Room, Christchurch

1999 ‘Wordworks’, Bookmakers Exhibition, Aotea Centre, Auckland City

1998 ‘Fisi, The blossoming of the Waves’, Mori Gallery, Sydney, Australia

1998 ‘Turangawaewae’, Dowse Art Museum, Wellington, New Zealand

1998 ‘Dream Talking’, Archill Gallery, Auckland

1998 ‘Fisi’, Compendium Gallery, Auckland

1998 ‘Tekela-Smith & Pule’, New Zealand Embassy, Suva, Fiji

1998 ‘Lapa’, Lopdell Gallery, Titirangi, Auckland

1997 ‘4 Artists’, Molikilangi Bure, University of the South Pacific, Fiji

1997 ‘Paper W/eights’, Archill Gallery, Auckland.

1997 ‘Plumes of Paradise’, Uxbridge Gallery, Auckland

1997 ‘Open Skies/Divided Horizons’, (part of Raymond Tableau), Auckland Art Gallery, Toi o Tamaki, Auckland


Additional Exhibitions:

2003 Untitled, solo show, Te Tuhi-The Mark Public Art Gallery, Auckland, New Zealand

2003 Untitled, solo show, John Leech Gallery, Auckland, New Zealand

2003 Joint Show with J Pule, Jonathan Smart Gallery, Christchurch, New Zealand


Residencies:

1998 Artist in Residence, Oceania Centre for Arts and Culture, University of the South Pacific, Suva, Fiji


Performances:

1998 “Apologies”, John Pule, Tjibaou Centre for Arts and Culture, New Caledonia

1996 “Motu Tangata”, with Pacific Sisters, Tusitala, Apia, Samoa


Public Collections:

  • Auckland Art Gallery, Toi o Tamaki, Auckland
  • Te Papa Tongarewa, Museum of New Zealand, Wellington
  • Grassi Museum, Lipzeig, Germany
  • Jenny Gibbs

Art Exhibits Organized/Curated:

1999 ‘In Praise of Hands’, Contemporary Pacific Art Gallery, Auckland

1998 ‘Raw Fishes’, The Physics Room, Christchurch

1997 ‘Pacific Art Awards’, James Wallace Art Gallery, Auckland.


Workshops Taught:

2002 Jewellery Worskshop(adults & kids), Auckland
Art Gallery Toi o Tamaki

2002 Jewellery Workshop(adult&kids) Auckland
Art Gallery Toi o Tamaki

2001 Elam School of Fine Arts, Summer School
University of Auckland


Selected Bibliography:

2000 Pacific Bound, 8th Pacific Festival of Arts,Creative NZ Catalogue

1999 Winter Edition, 1 Noble Savage 2 Dusky Maidens, Catalogue Art New Zealand

Nov 1999 Log Magazine

July 1999 NZ Herald, Viva Magazine

July 1999 NZ House and Garden

1999 Object Magazine,

1998 Turangawaewae Catalogue, Dowse Art Museum

 

The Art of Sofia Tekela-Smith
Contemporary Rotuman Artists