2026 Kākaunui Artists in Residence announced

Published on 03 July 2026

Forrester Gallery & Mahika Kai Mahika Toi and Friends of the Forrester Gallery are proud to announce the 2026 Kākaunui Artists in Residence – Dr Areta Wilkinson and Mark Adams.

Areta (Kāi Tahu), a jeweller and sculptor, and Mark (Pākehā), a photographer, have collaborated for over a decade, working with taoka in anthropological and natural history collections with Te Wai Pounamu origins.

They have deep dived into institutional collections on our shores and overseas, and explored ana whakairo sites across Aotearoa. Their collaborative work is achieved conceptually by producing imagery that speaks to both of their whakapapa, combining Mātauraka Māori and Museological methodologies.

They underwent a long-term residency at Cambridge University in the Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology (MAA) between 2009 and 2017, where they first began to experiment with the shadows produced by photograms. Their shared imagery has featured taoka, including tiki, moa and other extinct bird bones, fossils, and stone tools.

Their interest continues with recent explorations of Waitaki Museum & Archive Te Whare Taoka and Vanished World Centre. It is fitting how this residency selection came about, as Arts, Culture & Libraries Manager Chloe Searle had met them on a previous research trip in our Museum and knew they’d be perfect for consideration.

Mark Adams is well known for his cross-cultural photographic studies in Aotearoa and overseas, with particular mention of his work on Samoan tatau (tattooing) and whakairo Māori (carving).

Areta Wilkinson’s practice explores whakapaipai concepts of personal adornment and embellishment. Her PhD Jewellery as Pepeha: Contemporary Practice informed by Maori Inquiry was completed in 2015 at Massey University, with an exhibition held at Koukourarata Marae. She is a founding member of the Paemanu: Ngāi Tahu Visual Arts rōpū.

Mark and Areta will split their residency period in two; the first part has recently finished, with the remainder to commence later in the year. Their residency will result in an exhibition scheduled for May 2027 at Forrester Gallery & Mahika Kai Mahika Toi. Our residency programme allows for artists living outside of our region to spend time here producing work that reflects and complements the social and natural histories of te rohe o Waitaki.

The Kākaunui residency is generously supported by Friends of the Forrester Gallery and Chris Barnes.

ENDS

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