Stevei Houkāmau from Wellington has been announced the winner of the 2023 Kiingi Tuheitia Portraiture Award and a $20,000 cash prize. Stevei’s work Kia Whakatōmuri te haere whakamua was chosen from an impressive 96 entries nationwide and 43 finalists .
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News from Kiingi Tuheitia Portraiture Award
Portraits featuring whakairo (carving), raranga (weaving), photography, ceramics and oil paintings are some of the works shortlisted in the first portraiture award in honour of Kiingi Tuheitia.
The award, a partnership between the Office of the Kiingitanga and the New Zealand Portrait Gallery Te Pūkenga Whakaata, was launched to inspire a new generation of emerging Māori artists to create portraits of their tūpuna (ancestors).
The competition attracted 128 entries, of which 50 have been selected for the short-list and will form the Finalists Exhibition.
Artists were given an opportunity to showcase their talent on a national stage while competing for a First Prize of $20,000. The Runner-Up and People’s Choice Award provide $2,500 respectively.