# Kay George
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{{Short description|New Zealand and Cook Islands artist}}
{{Infobox artist
| name = Kay George
| birth_place = [Rotorua](/source/Rotorua), New Zealand
| known_for = painting, printing, photography
| style = colourful collage of Cook Islands imagery
| spouse = [Ian George](/source/Ian_George_(artist))
| children = [Mīria George](/source/M%C4%ABria_George)
| birth_date = {{Birth year and age|1954}}
| alma_mater = [Auckland University of Technology](/source/Auckland_University_of_Technology)
| image = Kay George, Auckland 2024 (cropped).jpg
| caption = Kay George, 2024
}}
'''Kay George''' (born 1954, [Rotorua](/source/Rotorua), New Zealand) is a senior New Zealand and [Cook Islands](/source/Cook_Islands) artist based in Rarotonga, Cook Islands. George is a major player in the development of the visual arts in the Cook Islands.[{{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}}]
George and her husband [Ian George](/source/Ian_George_(artist)), 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.[{{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}}] George and her husband ran an art gallery named The Art Studio for many years, (now Beluga Cafe), in [Arorangi](/source/Arorangi). The Art Studio was recognised as one of the leading galleries in the Pacific.[{{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}}]
In 1998, [Ian George](/source/Ian_George_(artist)) 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](/source/Ani_O'Neill), [Sylvia Marsters](/source/Sylvia_Marsters), [Mahiriki Tangaroa](/source/Mahiriki_Tangaroa), [Michel Tuffery](/source/Michel_Tuffery), [Jim Vivieaere](/source/Jim_Vivieaere), Ian George, and Kay George, the exhibition travelled to the [Fiji Museum](/source/Fiji_Museum), the [Cook Islands National Museum](/source/Cook_Islands_National_Museum), as well as the [Gus Fisher Gallery](/source/Gus_Fisher_Gallery) in Auckland. The exhibition was partly sponsored by the New Zealand High Commission in Rarotonga.[{{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 }}]
In 2008, She graduated Masters of Art and Design from [Auckland University of Technology](/source/Auckland_University_of_Technology) with Cook Islands scholarship.[{{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}}]
In 2010, George was part of the exhibition ''MANUIA'' with [Mahiriki Tangaroa](/source/Mahiriki_Tangaroa), [Michel Tuffery](/source/Michel_Tuffery), Jerome Sheddon, and [Michael Tavioni](/source/Mike_Tavioni), in American Indian Community House in [New York](/source/New_York_City). The exhibition was curated by Ben Bergman and was opened by former New Zealand Prime Minister, and former UNDP Programme Administrator [Helen Clark](/source/Helen_Clark).[{{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}}][{{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}}]
In 2018, celebrating 30 years since George's arrival to the Cook Islands, [Bergman Gallery](/source/Bergman_Gallery) hosted her retrospective exhibition and 200 people attended the opening.[{{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}}]
In 2025, there was an exhibition titled ''To Tātou Mārāmā, Our Light'', celebrating the Cook Islands’ 60 years of [self-governance](/source/self-governance), featuring four senior Cook Islands women Mahiriki Tangaroa, Sylvia Marsters, Kay George and [Joan Gragg](/source/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.[{{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}}][{{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}}]
Her work are exhibited internationally in Cook Islands, Australia, [New Zealand](/source/New_Zealand), [France](/source/France), United States of America, [New Caledonia](/source/New_Caledonia) and [Fiji](/source/Fiji). Her stepdaughter [Mīria George](/source/M%C4%ABria_George), is a New Zealand writer, producer and director.[{{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}}][{{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}}]
* 2018: ''Years of Colour'', Bergman Gallery, Rarotonga, Cook Islands[{{Cite journal |date=1997 |title=New work by Pacific artists : Ian and Kay George : Morgan St Gallery |journal=Art News |issue=Summer |pages=14}}]
* 1997: ''2 Women Show'' (with [Andrea Eimkee](/source/Andrea_Eimkee)), Darwin, Australia[{{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}}]
== Selected group exhibitions ==
* 2025: ''To Tātou Mārāmā, Our Light'', Bergman Gallery, Rarotonga, Cook Islands[{{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}}]
* 2020: ''Tatou 2, The Story of Us'', [Bergman Gallery](/source/Bergman_Gallery), Rarotonga, Cook Islands[{{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}}]
* 2013: ''Oe Vaka'', The Art Studio, Rarotonga, Cook Islands[{{Cite journal |date=2013 |title=Feature Gallery: The Art Studio, Rarotonga |journal=Art All |issue=Autumn, 110 |pages=18}}]
* 2010: ''MANUIA'', [BCA Gallery](/source/Beachcomber_Contemporary_Art) (now Bergman Gallery), Indian Nation Community House, New York City, [United States of America](/source/United_States)[{{Cite journal |date=2018 |title=Sketches : Artist reflects on her life in Rarotonga |journal=Art News |volume=38 |issue=Winter 2 |pages=47}}]
* 1998: ''Paringa Ou,'' Fisher Gallery, Auckland, New Zealand[{{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 }}]
* 1998: ''Paringa Ou'', [Fiji Museum](/source/Fiji_Museum), [Fiji](/source/Fiji)