About

Napier Artist Ngaio Blackwood

Why I do what I do

To encourage people to look closer at their surroundings so that, together, we see that more connects us than divides us 

Ngaio Blackwood Artist

Napier Artist - Ngaio Blackwood

I reflect on the lives we live and the connections we create with our surroundings. Hand-drawn stitched and painted fine art is where I process these ideas. Full-colour designer Tea Towels are something I'm well known for.

  • I believe in a world where learning from the past increases our success in the future
  • I think we should embrace our wobbly lines, ignore rulers and let the colours bleed
  • I'm scared that we will never overcome prejudice
  • I want to accept that I'm right where I need to be and that everything will be OK
  • I escape in books
  • I drink coffee to stay awake
  • I devour chocolate
  • I'm embarrassed that I like romantic comedies and a little Austen obsessed.

A member of the Hawkes Bay Embroidery Guild and Extensions group. Find out more about NZ embroidery guilds here.

Where to buy my work

Looking for my designer Tea Towels? New designs are released to my waiting list and only the leftovers make it to my online store. You can also buy my art deco themed tea towels direct from The Art Deco Trust shop in Napier

Hive Hair in Napier has some beeutiful fine art or you can buy directly from my shop. You can also find a few remaining hand-tatted lace jewellery pieces at The Franklin Arts Centre.

Please contact me for commissions or if you can't find the piece you're looking for

close up above the line, embroidery and painting by Ngaio Blackwood

Artist C.V

Ngaio R. Blackwood (Simpson)

(b. 1985, NZ)

Lives and works in Napier, NZ

Arts Education

  • 2007 - Bachelor of Fine Arts (Hons), Massey University

Solo/Duo Exhibitions

  • 2019 - Art House, The Rabbit Room Gallery
  • 2016 - Flight, Franklin Community Gallery https://www.facebook.com/events/289358094737499/
  • 2013 - Garage Exhibition, Auckland
  • 2012 - Artist in residence and exhibition at Incubator, Waiheke Island
  • 2011 - Blackbird, Upcycle, Waiheke Island
  • 2007 - Test pot, DAF106, Wellington. With Richard Simmonds

Group Exhibitions

  • 2018 - Textile sampler for the exhibition X-Marks, Conversations in Cloth, Waitangi Treaty Grounds.
  • 2016 - HB shorts art competition, Creative Arts Napier, Napier
  • 2016 - Made of Snow, Steel Gallery, Franklin Art Centre, Pukekohe
  • 2015 - Hibiscus & Bays art awards, Mairangi Arts Centre, Auckland
  • 2012 - Spring Exhibition, NorthART gallery, Auckland
  • 2011 - The Pre-Christmas $100 (or less) show, NorthART gallery, Auckland
  • 2010 - Gifthorse, Firehorse film studios, Auckland
  • 2008 - I like sex and I’m a girl, DAF106, Wellington
  • 2007 - Exposure, Massey University, Wellington

Workshops

  • 2019 - Unframed artist series, The Pencil Room, Napier
  • 2016 - Freestyle stitch, Franklin Art Centre, Pukekohe

Jewellery Collections

  • 2012 - Dawn, lace jewellery

Bibliography

Reviews/Blog features

Ravon about art "Flight | Rumours", July 2016

Tracey (Gadget Girl) "Flight...", July 2016

Felt Blog "Art in fibre", April 2016

Ravon about art "Made of Snow", Jan 2016

Muir, Matthew: “Black and other colours”, the gulf, Sep 2011, pg 36-37

Crane, Douglas (http://salient.org.nz/arts/visual-arts/visual-arts-2), 2008

Kenealy, Robyn E.: The Secret Life of Cream: Test pot, 2007 (http://artbash.co.nz/forums/reviews/the-secret-life-of-cream-testpot-new-paintings-by-ngaio-simpson-and-ri)

Bayfield high school yearbook, Cover, 2002

Interviews (Audio)

http://www.waihekeradio.org.nz/node/1494

Other Projects

Curated rework – an art discussion group