{{Short description|New Zealand and Cook Islands artist}} {{Infobox artist | name = Kay George | birth_place = Rotorua, New Zealand | known_for = painting, printing, photography | style = colourful collage of Cook Islands imagery | spouse = Ian George | children = Mīria George | birth_date = {{Birth year and age|1954}} | alma_mater = Auckland University of Technology | image = Kay George, Auckland 2024 (cropped).jpg | caption = Kay George, 2024 }}
'''Kay George''' (born 1954, Rotorua, New Zealand) is a senior New Zealand and Cook Islands artist based in Rarotonga, Cook Islands. George is a major player in the development of the visual arts in the Cook Islands.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2020-08-18 |title=Exhibition shows artist's new direction |url=https://www.cookislandsnews.com/local/exhibition-shows-artist-s-new-direction/ |access-date=2023-12-13 |website=Cook Islands News |language=en}}</ref>
George and her husband Ian George, also a notable artist himself, migrated to Rarotonga, Cook Islands from New Zealand so her husband can explore his family's heritage in the Cook Islands.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2020-08-18 |title=A lifetime of colour |url=https://www.cookislandsnews.com/weekend/a-lifetime-of-colour/ |access-date=2023-12-13 |website=Cook Islands News |language=en}}</ref> George and her husband ran an art gallery named The Art Studio for many years, (now Beluga Cafe), in Arorangi. The Art Studio was recognised as one of the leading galleries in the Pacific.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Creative New Zealand mourns the passing of Cook Islands artist Ian David George |url=https://creativenz.govt.nz/news-and-blog/2022/06/15/02/25/48/creative-new-zealand-mourns-the-passing-of-cook-islands-artist-ian-david-george |access-date=2023-12-13 |website=creativenz.govt.nz |language=en}}</ref>
In 1998, Ian George curated ''Paringa Ou'', the first major exhibition of contemporary art by Cook Island artists residing in New Zealand featuring artists such as Ani O'Neill, Sylvia Marsters, Mahiriki Tangaroa, Michel Tuffery, Jim Vivieaere, Ian George, and Kay George, the exhibition travelled to the Fiji Museum, the Cook Islands National Museum, as well as the Gus Fisher Gallery in Auckland. The exhibition was partly sponsored by the New Zealand High Commission in Rarotonga.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Stevenson |first=Karen |url=https://tetuhi.art/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/Paringa-Ou-publication-1999_web.pdf |title=Paringa Ou |publisher=Te Tuhi |year=1998 |archive-date=2024-05-15 |access-date=2024-03-29 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240515102724/http://tetuhi.art/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/Paringa-Ou-publication-1999_web.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref>
In 2008, She graduated Masters of Art and Design from Auckland University of Technology with Cook Islands scholarship.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Kay George {{!}} 21 July – 25 August 2018 – Overview |url=https://bergmangallery.com/exhibitions/43-kay-george-years-of-colour-1988-2018/overview/ |access-date=2023-12-13 |website=Bergman Gallery |language=en}}</ref>
In 2010, George was part of the exhibition ''MANUIA'' with Mahiriki Tangaroa, Michel Tuffery, Jerome Sheddon, and Michael Tavioni, in American Indian Community House in New York. The exhibition was curated by Ben Bergman and was opened by former New Zealand Prime Minister, and former UNDP Programme Administrator Helen Clark.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2010-03-17 |title=Art show well received |url=http://www.ciherald.co.ck/articles/h503i.htm |access-date=2025-05-23 |website=Cook Islands Herald}}</ref><ref name=":12">{{Cite web |date=2020-08-18 |title=NY embraces Manuia exhibit |url=https://www.cookislandsnews.com/features/ny-embraces-manuia-exhibit/ |access-date=2025-05-23 |website=Cook Islands News |language=en}}</ref>
In 2018, celebrating 30 years since George's arrival to the Cook Islands, Bergman Gallery hosted her retrospective exhibition and 200 people attended the opening.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |date=2020-08-18 |title=Celebrating 30 years of colour |url=https://www.cookislandsnews.com/culture/celebrating-30-years-of-colour/ |access-date=2023-12-13 |website=Cook Islands News |language=en}}</ref>
In 2025, there was an exhibition titled ''To Tātou Mārāmā, Our Light'', celebrating the Cook Islands’ 60 years of self-governance, featuring four senior Cook Islands women Mahiriki Tangaroa, Sylvia Marsters, Kay George and Joan Gragg. The exhibition was opened by Catherine Graham, New Zealand High Commission to the Cook Islands. George's work was layering memories and documenting evolving culture of the Cook Islands.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |date=2025-07-21 |title=Cook Islands' 60th anniversary celebrated in new art exhibition |url=https://www.cookislandsnews.com/internal/features/art/cook-islands-60th-anniversary-celebrated-in-new-art-exhibition/ |access-date=2025-08-12 |website=Cook Islands News |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=To Tātou Mārāmā – Our Light |url=https://artnow.nz/exhibitions/to-t%C4%81tou-m%C4%81r%C4%81m%C4%81-our-light |access-date=2025-08-12 |website=Artnow |language=en}}</ref>
Her work are exhibited internationally in Cook Islands, Australia, New Zealand, France, United States of America, New Caledonia and Fiji. Her stepdaughter Mīria George, is a New Zealand writer, producer and director.<ref>{{Cite web |date=22 October 2023 |title=Pacific artists honoured at Arts Awards |url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/kahu/pacific-artists-honoured-at-arts-awards/EEDA5OI5NIYUVHTNMN2BPUYEGA/ |access-date=22 October 2023 |website=NZ Herald |language=en-NZ}}</ref><ref name=":1" />
== Selected solo and collaborative exhibitions ==
* 2024: ''Beyond the Veil of Paradise'', Bergman Gallery, Auckland<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |title=Beyond the Veil of Paradise |url=https://artnow.nz/exhibitions/beyond-the-veil-of-paradise |access-date=2024-02-15 |website=Artnow |language=en}}</ref> * 2018: ''Years of Colour'', Bergman Gallery, Rarotonga, Cook Islands<ref name=":0" /> * 1997: ''Ian and Kay George'', Morgan Street Gallery, Auckland, New Zealand<ref>{{Cite journal |date=1997 |title=New work by Pacific artists : Ian and Kay George : Morgan St Gallery |journal=Art News |issue=Summer |pages=14}}</ref> * 1997: ''2 Women Show'' (with Andrea Eimkee), Darwin, Australia<ref>{{Cite journal |date=1997 |title=Pacific perspective : an exhibition of textile and mixed media by Kay George and Andrea Eimke from the Cook Islands |journal=Art News |volume=17 |issue=1 |pages=12}}</ref>
== Selected group exhibitions ==
* 2025: ''To Tātou Mārāmā, Our Light'', Bergman Gallery, Rarotonga, Cook Islands<ref name=":2" /> * 2025: ''Aotearoa Art Fair'', Viaduct Events Centre, Auckland, New Zealand<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-05-11 |title=A feast for the eyes: Umukai transports viewers to the Cook Islands |url=https://www.cookislandsnews.com/internal/features/art/a-feast-for-the-eyes-umukai-transports-viewers-to-the-cook-islands/ |access-date=2024-10-08 |website=Cook Islands News |language=en}}</ref> * 2020: ''Tatou 2, The Story of Us'', Bergman Gallery, Rarotonga, Cook Islands<ref>{{Cite web |title=TATOU 2 – The Story of Us. |url=https://artnow.nz/exhibitions/tatou-2-the-story-of-us |access-date=2023-12-13 |website=Artnow |language=en}}</ref> * 2013: ''Oe Vaka'', The Art Studio, Rarotonga, Cook Islands<ref>{{Cite journal |date=2013 |title=Feature Gallery: The Art Studio, Rarotonga |journal=Art All |issue=Autumn, 110 |pages=18}}</ref> * 2010: ''MANUIA'', BCA Gallery (now Bergman Gallery), Indian Nation Community House, New York City, United States of America<ref>{{Cite journal |date=2018 |title=Sketches : Artist reflects on her life in Rarotonga |journal=Art News |volume=38 |issue=Winter 2 |pages=47}}</ref> * 1998: ''Paringa Ou,'' Fisher Gallery, Auckland, New Zealand<ref name=":33">{{Cite web |title=IAN GEORGE |url=https://archive.tautai.org/artist/ian-george/ |access-date=2 October 2023 |website=TAUTAI – GUIDING PACIFIC ARTS |language=en-US |archive-date=25 September 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230925063907/https://archive.tautai.org/artist/ian-george/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> * 1998: ''Paringa Ou'', Fiji Museum, Fiji<ref name=":33" /> * 1998: ''Paringa Ou'', Cook Islands National Museum, Rarotonga, Cook Islands<ref name=":33" />
== References == {{Reflist}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:George, Kay}} Category:Cook Island artists Category:New Zealand artists Category:People from Rotorua Category:Auckland University of Technology alumni Category:1954 births Category:Living people