Artist Profile: Vicky Thomas

Ngati Kahu

BDes(Hons) -Visual Communication – Photography Major

Vicky’s work is a blend of contemporary urban Maori experience and Maori tribal tradition. She explores iconic New Zealand imagery in a new way whilst at the same time teasing out the impact ‘things maori’ are having in Aotearoa today.

Vicky grew up in Mangere, Auckland. Her father was Ngati Kahu from the Far North and her mother is of Irish/English decent and was born in Onehunga, Auckland. Apart from living in Australia for several years in her twenties, Vicky has lived in Auckland most of her life and is comfortable with describing herself as an urban Maori.

Her work in part comes from a culmination of her life experiences and observations of being both Maori and Pakeha living in Aotearoa/New Zealand. Her ideas are often influenced by pop culture, film, television, and music.