Artist Profile: Annabelle Buick

Ngati Pukenga

Multi-media artist

Ko Mataatua te Waka (canoe)
Ko Tauranga te Moana (ocean)
Ko Mauao te Maunga (mountain)
Ko Waitao te Awa (river)
Ko Ngati Pukenga te Iwi (tribe)
Ko Te Whetu o te Rangi te Marae

Born in Tauranga, Annabelle resided in Wellington for 15 years and has recently returned to Martinborough to convert the family bach into her studio. Her mother is of Ngati Pukenga iwi and her father of Scottish ancestry. The eldest of four children, Annabelle grew up in the small rural township of Martinborough, South Wairarapa. Growing up around a farming environment, she discovered two of her passions, sport and art.

Annabelle’s desire to be creative emerged when she settled in Wellington to raise her young family. Since graduating from Whitireia Community Polytechnic with a Craft & Design Diploma, she pursued product design to supply local galleries and design stores.

Annabelle is best known for her innovative sculptural lamps, which are made using paper made from harakeke (native NZ flax), and for which she received registration for the ‘Toi Iho’ trademark. She continues to apply her creative energies by adapting traditional Maori art mediums, techniques and processes to create innovative contemporary artworks.