Artist in Residence 14th – 28th Sept 2025
Kris White will be our Artist in Residence for the later part of September as part of her prize for winning joint first place in 2024’s Taranaki National Art Awards Fibre Arts Award.
Although Kris focuses much of her practice on painting she is also a textile arts practitioner and wil spend her residency time exploring that part of her practice. We are really looking forward to seeing the works she develops.
Kris will have an installation of her works in The Staircase Gallery while she is in Residence so please do stop in to see her and to learn more about her practice and the directions of artistic expression she is exploring.
Here is Kris’s CV statement.
I am a dynamic artist with the WOW factor.
I call myself a part time artist, working from my art studio in Oakura. I also own a family earthworks business, doing general work in the field when required and all the office administration. This gives me the flexibility to create and make art. My other interests include playing golf and I enjoy watching all sports especially rugby. I am a loyal Taranaki, Hurricane and All Blacks supporter.
I was born in Wellington and then lived in Auckland, since I was eight, where I spent most of my school years, I loved subjects involving art and art history. Sport took up a lot of my time, playing hockey and golf. Along with my partner Greg and adult children, Jakob, Portia and Rhiarn, we enjoy living on our small farmlet on the outskirts of Oakura.
I work mainly in acrylic paint and sometimes introduce other mediums like jacquard linen, foils and ink. I had my first overseas exhibition this year in Salzburg, Austria. My work has also been purchased by art collectors around the world, Australia, America, England, Sweden, Holland and Europe.
I have been involved as an artist in the Oakura Arts Trail since 2012 and in every Taranaki Arts Trail since its inception in 2014. I love to enhance gallery visitors experience by explaining significance and history behind each piece of my work. I enjoy doing commissioned artwork for clients, working with them to get their desired outcome and requirements. I have been involved in art galleries around the Taranaki region, coordinating and arranging displays and the sale of artworks.
Recognised for award-winning works and being success at art shows around New Zealand, twice a winner at the Taranaki National Art Awards held in Opunake, in 2019 Sculpture Award and in 2024 the Fibre Award. Both these awards have had a theme. By using a paper bag as a “canvas” I created works using different mediums. The intention was to get the viewer observing and seeing how a simple object can be made into a piece of artwork.
I have developed a passion and personal commitment to helping children enjoying and creating art. In my studio and at the Govett-Brewster Art Gallery/Len Lye Centre, I have developed highly effective lesson plans, motivational exercises and have received positive feedback from parents and visitors to my studio of my abilities in teaching children and have demonstrated dedication to fostering a positive learning environment to all children and maximising individual children age performance. I have conducted workshops for aspiring artists, sharing techniques in various medium and inspiring creativity.
In my artist residency at “from out of the blue studio gallery” I intend to use my paper bag ideas, also incorporating other fibre and fabric materials. I would like to rework some of my pieces I have used in my 100 Day Challenges from previous years. I look forward to also dabbling in other mediums that the gallery offers.
