Brett Graham

Brett Graham
Graham in 2008
Born	1967 (age 56–57) Auckland, New Zealand
Education	University of Auckland (BFA, 1988), University of Hawaii at Manoa (MFA, 1991), University of Auckland (DocFA, 2005)
Known for	Sculpture
Website	brettgraham.co.nz

Brett Graham (born 1967) is a New Zealand sculptor who creates large scale artworks and installations that explore indigenous histories, politics and philosophies.

Snitch from 2014, in the collection of the Honolulu Museum of Art, references the Disney movie Lilo & Stitch. It is an example of the artist's combining traditional Maori carving with contemporary themes.^[1]

Brett Graham used recycled rubber tires and steel to make sculptures and they were called “Weapons of Mass Destruction”.^[2] Graham’s sculpture “Te Hokioi” was created because of the 2007 police raids on the Tuhoe community of Ruatoki.^[3]

Education

Graham is a Bachelor of Fine Arts (University of Auckland, 1988), a Master of Fine Arts (University of Hawaii at Manoa, 1991) and a Doctor of Fine Arts (University of Auckland, 2005).^[4][5]

International exhibitions

Graham's work was included in the following international exhibitions.

• 1996 – Asia Pacific Triennial , Queensland Art Gallery^[6]
• 2001 – Purangiaho Seeing Clearly, Auckland Art Gallery Toi O Tamaki^[7]
• 2001 – Parihaka: The Art of Passive Resistance, City Gallery Wellington^[8]
• 2006 – Biennale of Sydney^[9]
• 2007 – Venice Biennale^[10]
• 2010 – Biennale of Sydney^[11]
• 2017 – Honolulu Biennial^[12]

Major collections and public commissions

Graham has received a number of important commissions and his work is held in a number of international collections^[13]

• Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tamaki^[14]
• Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa^[15]
• Honolulu Museum of Art^[16]
• Kahukura,, Tjibaou Cultural Centre, New Caledonia
• Whaowhia, for the Auckland War Memorial Museum^[17]
• Kaiwhakatere, Parliament precinct, Wellington ^[18]
• Rawhiti, Adam Art Gallery, Victoria University^[19]
• Kowhatu Karohirohi, Victoria University Collection^[20]
• Escape, North Shore Court House^[20]

Personal life

Of Ngāti Korokī Kahukura (Maori tribe) and Pakeha (European) descent, Graham was born in Auckland, New Zealand, where he currently resides.^[21] Graham's father is sculptor Fred Graham is also a sculptor,^[22] whose work Kaitiaki (2004) is visible from Brett Graham's piece Whaowhia.

Gallery

• 
  Kaiwhakatere: The Navigator, 2000, at the Parliament precinct, Wellington
• 
  Manu Tāwhiowhio: Bird Satellite, 1996, at Auckland University of Technology
• 
  Snitch, 2014, Honolulu Museum of Art
• 
  The left Whaowhia sculpture, 2007, at Auckland War Memorial Museum
• 
  The right Whaowhia sculpture, 2007, at Auckland War Memorial Museum

References