{{Short description|New Zealand-born Cook Islands photographer and painter}} {{Infobox artist | name = Mahiriki Tangaroa | birth_place = Auckland, New Zealand | known_for = painting | birth_date = {{Birth year and age|1973}} | alma_mater = University of Canterbury | style = Cubism | education = Ilam School of Fine Arts | notable_works = Kaveinga: Angels of the Ocean (2022) }}
'''Mahiriki Tangaroa''' (born 1973, Auckland, New Zealand)<ref name="bergman">{{cite web |url=https://bergmangallery.co.ck/artists/mahiriki-tangaroa/ |title=Mahiriki Tangaroa |publisher=Bergman Gallery |author=Ben Bergman |date= |access-date=10 September 2020}}</ref> is a New Zealand-born Cook Islands photographer and painter.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2020-08-18 |title=Local artist's talent well received |url=https://www.cookislandsnews.com/local/local-artist-s-talent-well-received/ |access-date=2023-10-03 |website=Cook Islands News |language=en}}</ref> She is a former director of the Cook Islands National Museum. She is recognised as a leading contemporary Cook Islands artist,<ref name="cih1">{{cite web |url=http://www.ciherald.co.ck/articles/h529j.htm |title=Local artist to help organize major international exhibition of Polynesian art works |publisher=Cook Islands Herald |author=Charles Pitt |date=15 September 2010 |access-date=10 September 2020}}</ref> and her work is regularly exhibited in galleries in New Zealand and the Cook Islands.<ref name="bergman" /> She also exhibits internationally in Paris, Venice, and New York.<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":4">{{Cite web |title=OCEANIA NOW: Contemporary Art from the Pacific {{!}} Contemporary Hum |url=https://contemporaryhum.com/projects/oceania-now-contemporary-art-from-the-pacific |access-date=2023-08-18 |website=contemporaryhum.com |language=en}}</ref><ref name=":5">{{Cite web |title=Te Atuitanga - Between our Cloak of Stars {{!}} 25 June - 16 July 2022 - Overview |url=https://bergmangallery.com/exhibitions/34-te-atuitanga-between-our-cloak-of-stars-group-exhibition/overview/ |access-date=2023-08-17 |website=Bergman Gallery |language=en}}</ref>
== Early life == Of Cook Islands heritage, Tangaroa was born in Auckland, New Zealand, and grew up in Christchurch. Tangaroa emigrated to the Cook Islands when she was 24 years old. Tangaroa majored in photography at Ilam School of Fine Arts in the University of Canterbury, before returning to the Cook Islands in 1998.<ref name="odt1">{{cite web |author=Nigel Benson |date=9 June 2008 |title=Ancient inspiration, modern application |url=https://www.odt.co.nz/entertainment/arts/ancient-inspiration-modern-application |access-date=10 September 2020 |publisher=Otago Daily Times}}</ref>
== Art career == 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 National Museum in Fiji, Cook Islands National Museum, as well as Gus Fisher Gallery in Auckland, New Zealand.<ref>{{Cite web |title=TeTuhi |url=https://tetuhi.art/exhibition/paringa-ou-something-old-something-new/ |access-date=2023-11-16 |website=tetuhi.art}}</ref> The exhibition was sponsored by the New Zealand High Commission.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Stevenson |first=Karen |title=Paringa Ou publication |url=https://tetuhi.art/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/Paringa-Ou-publication-1999_web.pdf |access-date=2021-11-16 |website=Te Tuhi}}</ref>
Tangaroa began to paint in 1999.<ref name="denovo" /> Her work is inspired by ancient Cook Islands art and artefacts, including the "fisherman's god" Tangaroa, the war god Rongo and the goddess of Aitutaki.<ref>{{cite web |date= |title=Mahiriki Tangaroa |url=https://artfair.co.nz/artist/mahiriki-tangaroa/ |access-date=10 September 2020 |publisher=Auckland Art Fair 2021}}</ref> Tangaroa's paintings ignites the discussions about the loss of pre-colonial and pre-Christianity culture in the Cook Islands, how indigenous gods that Cook Islanders once worshipped is turned into mass produced commercial exploitation.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Benson |first=Nigel |date=2008-06-09 |title=Ancient inspiration, modern application |url=https://www.odt.co.nz/entertainment/arts/ancient-inspiration-modern-application |access-date=2023-10-03 |website=Otago Daily Times |language=en}}</ref> Her exhibitions draws large crowds in the Cook Islands.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2020-08-18 |title=Local artist's talent well received |url=https://www.cookislandsnews.com/local/local-artist-s-talent-well-received/ |access-date=2024-03-26 |website=Cook Islands News |language=en}}</ref>
In 2000 Tangaroa was appointed director of the Cook Islands National Museum, a position she held for three years.<ref name="bergman" /> She subsequently worked as the director of the Beachcomber Gallery in Avarua.<ref name="denovo">{{cite web |url=https://www.gallerydenovo.co.nz/artist/Mahiriki-Tangaroa |title=Mahiriki Tangaroa |publisher=Gallery de Novo |date= |access-date=10 September 2020}}</ref>
In 2010, Tangaroa was invited to curate the exhibition ''Atua: sacred art from Polynesia'',<ref name="cih1" /> which was displayed at the National Gallery of Australia and the St. Louis Art Museum in the USA.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ciherald.co.ck/articles/PDF%20Herald%20Issues/Herald%20720%2004%2006%2014.pdf |pages=12–13 |title=Atua Sacred Gods from Polynesia Exhibition - A Major International Exhibition of Polynesian Traditional Cultural Artefacts |author=Mahiriki Tangaroa |publisher=Cook Islands Herald |date=4 June 2014 |access-date=10 September 2020}}</ref>
In 2010, Tangaroa was part of the exhibition ''MANUIA'' with Kay George, Michel Tuffery, Jerome Sheddon, and Michael Tavioni, in American Indian Community House in New York. The exhibition was co-curated by Tangaroa and 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=":1">{{Cite web |last= |first= |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>
John Gow of Gow Langsford Gallery, and Alison Bartley in 2022 co-curated ''OCEANIA NOW: Contemporary Art from the Pacific,'' at Christie's in Paris featuring artists Shane Cotton, Brett Graham, Lyonel Grant, Nikau Hindin, Yuki Kihara, Roger Mortimer, Fiona Pardington, John Pule, Lisa Reihana, Mahiriki Tangaroa, Kelcy Taratoa, John Walsh, Dame Robin White, and Cora-Allan Wickcliffe.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Christie's Paris presents 'OCEANIA NOW: Contemporary Art from the Pacific' |url=https://thebigidea.nz/community-announcements/christies-paris-presents-oceania-now-contemporary-art-from-the-pacific |access-date=2025-05-23 |website=thebigidea.nz |language=en}}</ref>
In 2022, Tangaroa had a solo exhibition titled ''Kaveinga – Angels of the Ocean'', presented by Bergman Gallery in Venice, Italy as part of European Cultural Centre: ''Personal Structures'' coinciding Venice Biennale.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Structures |first=Personal |title=Personal Structures |url=https://personalstructures.com/ |access-date=2023-10-01 |website=Personal Structures |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Williams |first=Al |date=2022-04-23 |title=Taking our art to the world |url=https://www.cookislandsnews.com/internal/features/art/taking-our-art-to-the-world/ |access-date=2024-03-26 |website=Cook Islands News |language=en}}</ref>
Fatu Feu'u collaborated with Tangaroa in 2024 in an exhibition named ''Aro'a Alofa'' in Rarotonga, Cook Islands. Feu'u explained the exhibition is a way of giving back to the Cook Islands and the friends who supported his career, as well as reconnecting with the local community.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |last=Mika |first=Talaia |date=2024-08-27 |title=Renowned artist celebrates Cook Islands legacy with new exhibition |url=https://www.cookislandsnews.com/internal/national/features/art/renowned-artist-celebrates-cook-islands-legacy-with-new-exhibition/ |access-date=2025-05-23 |website=Cook Islands News |language=en}}</ref>
In February 2025, a book on Marjorie Crocombe was published, Joan Gragg and Tricia Thompson both noted Marjorie’s significant contributions to Cook Islands Māori language's preservation and education. The book was decorated with paintings by Joan Gragg and Mahiriki Tangaroa.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Dixon |first=Rod |date=2025-02-22 |title=New book chronicles the legacy of 'Pacific icon' Marjorie Crocombe |url=https://www.cookislandsnews.com/internal/features/weekend/memory-lane/new-book-chronicles-the-legacy-of-pacific-icon-marjorie-crocombe/ |access-date=2025-05-27 |website=Cook Islands News |language=en}}</ref>
In July 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. Tangaroa's work was commentary of the social change and inherited dislocation in the Cook Islands.<ref name=":6">{{Cite web |last= |first= |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>
== Collections == Her work is held in numerous private and major public collections throughout New Zealand and Cook Islands, including University of the South Pacific,<ref>{{Cite book |last=Dixon |first=Rod |url=https://www.usp.ac.fj/usp-cook-islands/wp-content/uploads/sites/114/2022/04/14053220-20USP20Cook20Island20Art20Catalogue20v01.pdf |title=Public Art Collection Catalogue |date=2014-05-01 |publisher=University of South Pacific |location=Cook Islands}}</ref> Christchurch Art Gallery,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Passing Through the Garden of Grace |url=https://christchurchartgallery.org.nz/collection/2022213/mahiriki-tangaroa/passing-through-the-garden-of-grace |access-date=2025-06-04 |website=christchurchartgallery.org.nz}}</ref> The Arts House Trust,<ref>{{Cite web |title=TANGAROA, Mahiriki |url=https://collection.artshousetrust.co.nz/persons/3035/tangaroa-mahiriki |access-date=2025-06-04 |website=The Arts House Trust |language=en}}</ref> and Dame Patsy Reddy Collection<ref>{{Cite web |last= |date=2021-07-21 |title=Cook Islands Art in the Royal Collection |url=https://islandculturearchivalsupport.wordpress.com/2021/07/21/cook-islands-art-in-the-royal-collection/ |access-date=2025-06-04 |website= |language=en}}</ref>
== Selected solo and collaborative exhibitions == Source:<ref name=":3">{{Cite web |title=Mahiriki Tangaroa CV |url=https://www.artsy.net/artist/mahiriki-tangaroa/cv |access-date=2025-05-23 |website=Artsy |language=en}}</ref>
* 2024: ''Aro'a Alofa'' (with Fatu Feu'u), Bergman Gallery, Rarotonga Cook Islands<ref name=":2" /> * 2022: ''Kaveinga - Angels of the Ocean'', European Cultural Centre - Italy: ''Personal Structures: Reflections'', Venice, Italy<ref>{{Cite web |title=Mahiriki Tangaroa {{!}} 23 April - 27 November 2022 - Overview |url=https://bergmangallery.com/exhibitions/33-mahiriki-tangaroa-kaveinga-angels-of-the-ocean/overview/ |access-date=2023-08-17 |website=Bergman Gallery |language=en}}</ref> * 2020: ''In a Perfect World'', Bergman Gallery, Rarotonga, Cook Islands<ref>{{Cite web |last=Samoglou |first=Emmanuel |date=2020-10-25 |title=In a time of darkness, local artist sees light |url=https://www.cookislandsnews.com/art/in-a-time-of-darkness-local-artist-sees-light/ |access-date=2024-03-26 |website=Cook Islands News |language=en}}</ref> * 2019: ''Earth, Wind & Fire... Irrespective of Place'', Bergman Gallery, Rarotonga, Cook Islands<ref>{{Cite web |last=Etches |first=Melina |date=2020-08-18 |title=In the name of art |url=https://www.cookislandsnews.com/culture/in-the-name-of-art/ |access-date=2024-03-26 |website=Cook Islands News |language=en}}</ref> * 2019: ''Kia Maeva Tatou'', Bergman Gallery, Rarotonga, Cook Islands * 2016: ''Blessed again by the Gods'', Bergman Gallery, Rarotonga, Cook Islands * 2009: ''M101'', BCA Gallery, Rarotonga, Cook Islands * 2008: ''Mangoes in the Morning'', Gallery De Novo, Dunedin, New Zealand<ref>{{Cite web |date=2007-03-19 |title=Busy time ahead for leading artist |url=http://www.ciherald.co.ck/articles/t191c.htm |access-date=2023-10-03 |website=Cook Islands Herald}}</ref> * 2008: ''Exit of Itoro'', Reef Gallery, Auckland, New Zealand * 2003: ''Avatea'', Letham Gallery, Auckland, New Zealand
== Selected group exhibitions == Source:<ref name=":3" />
* 2025: ''To Tātou Mārāmā, Our Light'', Bergman Gallery, Rarotonga, Cook Islands<ref name=":6" /> * 2025: ''Aotearoa Art Fair'', Viaduct Events Centre, Auckland New Zealand<ref>{{Cite web |title=Bergman at Aotearoa Art Fair |url=https://artnow.nz/exhibitions/bergman-at-aotearoa-art-fair |access-date=2025-08-12 |website=Artnow |language=en}}</ref> * 2024: ''Aotearoa Art Fair'', Viaduct Events Centre, Auckland New Zealand<ref>{{Cite web |last= |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=2025-05-23 |website=Cook Islands News |language=en}}</ref> * 2022: ''OCEANIA NOW: Contemporary Art from the Pacific'', Christie's, Paris, France<ref name=":4" /><ref>{{Cite web |title=OCEANIA NOW : Contemporary Art from the Pacific |url=https://onlineonly.christies.com/s/oceania-now-contemporary-art-pacific/lots/2166 |access-date=2023-08-18 |website=onlineonly.christies.com}}</ref> * 2022: ''Te Atuitanga - Between our Cloak of Stars'', Bergman Gallery, Auckland, New Zealand<ref name=":5" /> * 2010: ''MANUIA'', American Indian Community House, New York, United States of America<ref name=":1" /> * 1998: ''Paringa Ou,'' Gus Fisher Gallery, Auckland, New Zealand<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=TeTuhi |url=https://tetuhi.art/exhibition/paringa-ou-something-old-something-new/ |access-date=2023-10-03 |website=tetuhi.art}}</ref> * 1998: ''Paringa Ou'', Fiji Museum, Fiji<ref name=":0" /> * 1998: ''Paringa Ou'', Rarotonga, Cook Islands National Museum<ref name=":0" />
==References== {{reflist}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Tangaroa, Mahiriki}} Category:1973 births Category:Living people Category:Cook Island artists Category:New Zealand painters Category:University of Canterbury alumni Category:New Zealand curators Category:21st-century New Zealand painters Category:21st-century New Zealand women painters