Fred Graham
Ngāti Koroki Kahukura/Tainui
Fred has played a significant role in Aotearoa’s strong contemporary Māori art movement
Fred’s works are a unique fusion of Māori and European cultures, often combining traditional wood and stone with modern materials. Fred’s sculptures integrate Māori mythology with Western modernism and have been exhibited all over the world.
Some of his work deals with loss of Māori land, although his central themes are inspired by Māori traditions and pūrākau (stories, narratives).
"One of my grandkids said to me one day, ‘Grandad... ‘what is art?’, and I said, ‘well, every time I pick up a pencil, or a paintbrush, or a chisel, I try to answer that question.”