Art amplifying the indigenous voice
Tessa Russell is an interdisciplinary artist, who places her voice as a Māori mother at the center of her practice. Understanding how she makes will impact on the world her descendants live in, she explores using sustainable methods and materials when creating, unapologetically declaring the relationship Māori have with their environment. Tessa’s work opens up conversations addressing current issues affecting Māori, always reflecting on whakapapa, mana and mauri.
A portrait photographer for 10 years before returning to study in 2019, Tessa completed a Bachelor of Māori Visual Arts at Toioho ki Apiti Massey University in 2021 with First Class Honours, earning a Māori Scholar Award for being in the top 5% of her graduating class as well as the Rangatira Award on behalf of the Associate Dean-Māori.
Tessa has exhibited around Aotearoa in group and solo exhibitions. Tessa has been a finalist in a number of awards for her art, including the Wellington Regional Arts Review and Te Taura Whiri Ngā Tohu Reo Māori Awards. She has taken awards home from the Inaugural Kingii Tuheitia Portraiture Awards, the Molly Morpeth Canaday Awards, the ECC NZ Student Craft / Design awards and the New Zealand Painting and Printmaking Awards.
Contact tessa@toibytessa.com for customs prints, commissions, exhibitions and art education enquiries.
UPCOMING
Solo show at Enjoy Gallery, Pōneke Opening October 24th 2025
NOW SHOWING
Karanga atu Karanga mai – Te Atamira Gallery, Tāhuna Queenstown
Toi Matarau Gallery – Otaki
PAST SOLO EXHIBITIONS
2024 – 1835 – Wearable Art
2023 – E moko, come home – Wormhole Gallery, Edgecumbe
2021 – Came from Te Kore – Whakatāne Library and Exhibition Centre
2018 – The Papatūānuku Series – Expressions Whirinaki Arts & Entertainment Centre, Upper Hutt
PAST GROUP SHOWS
2025
Hoa Haere i te Ao – Aotearoa Arts Fair, Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland
Seeds for Sovereignty – Kuwao Gallery, Tauranga
2024
Elemental – Webb’s, Wellington
Ara within the Āhuru – Laree Payne Gallery, Waikato
2023
A seat at the table – Tauranga Arts Festival
Reproductive surfaces – Te Whare Hera Gallery, Wellington
WHAKAHOKI/A – Wairoa Museum
2022
Mā wai rā – Photospace Gallery, Wellington (Curator)
Waitangi, WhyTangi, WhyWeTangi – Whakatāne Museum
Hāukati – Ahuriri Contemporary, Hastings
Bread and Butter – Greyplace Gallery, Auckland
Hā – Toi Pōneke, Wellington (Curator)
NZ Painting and Printmaking Awards until April 13th – Hamilton Gardens, Pavilion, Waikato
Kiingi Tuheitia Portraiture Awards – Otago Museum, Dunedin
Kiingi Tuheitia Portraiture Awards – Waikato Museum, Waikato
Emerging artists 2022 -Sanderson Contemporary, Auckland
2021
Matatau – Te Manawa, Palmerston North
Journal Launch – Mai i te poo ki te ao maarama – Otago Pioneer Women’s, Dunedin
Puanga show – Hihiaua Cultural Centre, Whangarei
Tāku ahi – Hihiaua Cultural Centre, Whangarei
Matatau – Te-Putahi-a-Toi, Massey University, Palmerston North
Kiingi Tuheitia Portraiture Awards – National Portrait Gallery, Wellington
Molly Morpeth Canaday Awards – Whakatane Library and Exhibition Centre
2020
Wellington Regional Arts Review – Expressions Whirinaki Arts & Entertainment Centre, Upper Hutt
Iterations’ of my tūpuna – Social Movements, Resistance and Social Change conference – Rutherford House, Wellington
Mata Oro – Te-Putahi-a-Toi, Massey University, Palmerston North
2019
Mata Oho – Te-Putahi-a-Toi, Massey University, Palmerston North
Mata Oho – Te-Putahi-a-Toi, Massey University, Palmerston North
You ripped out my mother tongue – Wairoa Māori Film Festival – Kahungunu Marae
You ripped out my mother tongue – Uniquely Matariki Auckland
2018
Coexistence Wellington Exhibition
AWARDS & SCHOLARSHIPS
2022 – Māori Scholar Award Massey University
2022 – Rangatira Award on behalf of Associate Dean-Māori Te Kunenga ki Pūrehuroa, Massey University.
2021 – Honourable Mention for ‘#itsnotaboutatie’ at the Kiingi Tuheitia Portraiture Awards.
2021 – Gordon Harris Merit award for ‘Of this land’ at the Molly Morpeth Canaday Awards.
2020 – Finalist for ‘Mangopare ki Nuhaka diaspora’ Wellington Regional Arts Review 2020.
2020 – Hinemoa Hilliard Memorial Scholarship, Massey University.
2019 – Finalist for ‘You ripped out my mother tongue’ Te Taura Whiri Ngā Tohu Reo Māori Awards.
2019 – Highly Commended Lighting Design Award for ‘Te Whare Wānanga’ ECC NZ Student Craft / Design awards. 2019 – Toioho ki Apiti Scholarship, Massey University.
TOI BY TESSA 