Napier Artist Ngaio Blackwood
Why I do what I do
I seek to nurture a genuine interest in all the details and magic of daily life
I encourage people to look closer at their surroundings so that, together, we see that more connects us than divides us
Napier Artist - Ngaio Blackwood
About
I grew up in Dunedin, New Zealand. After moving north to Wellington I received a bachelor with honours in fine arts from Massey University. Currently, I work in Napier and spend as much time as I can in the studio.
- 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 my coffee black
- I devour chocolate
- I'm embarrassed that I like romantic comedies and I'm a little Austen obsessed.
A former member of the Hawkes Bay Embroidery Guild and Extensions group. Find out more about NZ embroidery guilds here.
Statement
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. I'm currently having conversations between paint and thread about colour and form.
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
- 2019 - Embroidery with Kids, MTG, 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