"As a New Zealand artist I celebrate these islands that we live on and in particular, my home island, Waiheke. The layers of history that cover this land, that have come about through the interweaving of different peoples who have made these islands their home fascinate me and are often referred to in my work. 2006
"As a New Zealand artist I celebrate these islands that we live on and in particular, my home island, Waiheke. The layers of history that cover this land, that have come about through the interweaving of different peoples who have made these islands their home fascinate me and are often referred to in my work.
New Works, Waiheke Community Art Gallery
“Bugged”, Lopdell House, Titrangi
Auckland Boys Grammar Annual Exhibition, Auckland
“Taatai Tupuna”, group Matariki show, WCAG, Waiheke
(Curator also)
2007
New Works, Waiheke Community Art Gallery, Waiheke
“Mantle of The Land”, Waiheke Community Gallery, Waiheke
Kings College Annual Fine Art exhibition, Auckland
“Kohikohinga Whetu”, Waiheke Community Gallery, Waiheke
(Curator also)
2008
Mana Whenua Chris Bailey/Sally Smith, The Lane, Auckland, March
Whakamaumahara, Waiheke Community Art Gallery, July
2009
Spaces Between, Solo, Waiheke Community Art Gallery, March
Metal Matters, Uxbridge, Howick, Auckland, May
Out From Down Under And Beyond, Agora Gallery, Chelsea, New York, May
Kings College Annual Fine Art exhibition, Auckland, November
Weather, Waiheke Community Art Gallery, Waiheke Island, November
2010
Sally Smith, Waiheke Community Art Gallery, Waiheke Island, January.
Chris Bailey - Ngati Hako, Te Aupouri, Ngati Porou
A reknown sculptor in both stone and timber, Chris pulls inspiration from the traditional forms used by his ancestors. Whether working at a large scale on a monumental piece or a small necklace, form plays an importanty role in his work.
With his formal training having been at Auckland University, as part of a BA Majoring in Maori and Cultural Heritage, Chris has been a practicing artist for twenty five years with a long history exhibiting nationally and more recently seeing him exhibit in San Francisco, Canada, Tokyo, and Italy in the 53rd Venice Biennale.
Three grants received from Creative NZ, NZ Arts Council in both 2005, 2007 and 2009 to develop new collection’s of works .
Chris has been recognized by the New Zealand Art Council for his stone work and as such
granted Toi Iho status which formally recognizes authentic Maori art of a high artistic quality.
Commissioned by Creative NZ to produce carved timber seats for the New Zealand Room in collaboration with Katie Lockheart at the 53rd Venice Biennale 2009.
Books Featured In:
“Te Kahui o Matariki” looking at recognized Maori artists by Penguin Publishing in 2008.
“Hauraki Gulf”, 2008
“Important NZ Art Works”, Webbs, 2008
Chris’s works are held in private collections in New Zealand, USA, France, London and Italy with works also purchased for public presentations by New Zealand Maritime Museum, Museum of New Zealand (Te Papa) and the New Zealand Arts Council (Creative NZ)
Reviews
Chris Bailey’s first solo show at FHE Galleries Motuaariroa received high acclaim by the public and art critics alike. Speaking of one of the works in the show, Matau in his review, TJ McNamara of the NZ Herald writes, “The shape is stylised, keeping the high polish and the sense of sharp edges but it is also roughened and has been subjected to heat. It combines the polish of utility with the roughness of the earth to form a powerful symbol of our connection with land and sea.” He goes on to say that “There are only seven pieces [in the exhibition] but the combined weight is several tonnes. Each work has taken on the strength of stone and is something special to this land. It is an exceptionally fine exhibition.”
Selected Exhibitions and Symposiums:
2005
· Toi Maori- The Eternal Thread Exhibition,
Yerba Buena Centre for Arts, San Francisco, USA, August,
· Te Papa, NZ National Museum Toi Iho Exhibition,June
2006 “Chris Bailey- New Works, Waiheke Community Art Gallery, January
· “Art Out There” Exhibition, Waiheke Island, Sculpture in the landscape,
· Creative NZ Exhibition, Tokyo, Japan, November
· APEC, virtual exhibition, August 2006 – 2007
2007 “New Works” exhibition, Waiheke Community Art Gallery, January
· “Maori Mark” The Wellington Event Centre, Wellington
· “Spirit Wrestler Gallery” Vancouver, Canada, August
2008 “Mana Whenua”, The Lane Gallery, Auckland, March
· “Mini Masterworks” , Spirit Wrestler Gallery , Canada, March
· “Te Kahui o Matariki”, group show and book launch,
North Art, Auckland, June
· “Motuaarairoa” Solo Show, FHE, Auckland, June
· Tiny Treasures, De Young Museum of Modern Art, San Francisco, USA, October
· Sculpture Onshore Sculpture Symposium, Takapuna, ,NZ, November
2009Auckland Art Fair, Auckland, New Zealand
Selected as a featured artist to exhibit in the show case
Sculpture Court
· 53rd Venice Biennale – St MaddalenaChurch, Venice, Italy
· NZ Room. Collaboration with Katie Lockheart. June – November
· 6x6 International Timber Carving Symposium, LakeSerraia,
Another local resident of Waiheke Island, Ngarimu is hugely talented weaver who works in kete, korowai (cloaks) and wall pieces. His pieces are held in international collections and he is known for his extra fine and precise weaving.
"As a New Zealand artist I celebrate these islands that we live on and in particular, my home island, Waiheke. The layers of history that cover this land, that have come about through the interweaving of different peoples who have made these islands their home fascinate me and are often referred to in my work. 
With his formal training having been at Auckland University, as part of a BA Majoring in Maori and Cultural Heritage, Chris has been a practicing artist for twenty five years with a long history exhibiting nationally and more recently seeing him exhibit in San Francisco, Canada, Tokyo, and Italy in the 53rd Venice Biennale. 