Gina Matchitt Artist Bio
Gina Matchitt grew up in Rotorua, New Zealand and studied jewellery at Unitec School of Design and Mori Visual Arts at Toioho ki Apiti, Mori Visual Arts at Massey University. Drawing on her iwi affiliations, Te Arawa and Te Whakathea, her work is a fusion of Mori and Pkeh practice, knowledge and concepts. Matchitt explores mtauranga Mori by reinterpreting Mori pattern and language with contemporary materials. Using recycled computer keys, stickers, fabric, photography and duct tape, Matchitt's work contributes to the Toi Mori visual language in the 21stcentury. In 2019 her work He Tohutono (The Commanding Sign) was the runner up at the National Contemporary Art Awards at Waikato Museum. Matchitt's work is featured in many New Zealand collections including Te Papa Tongarewa - The National Museum of New Zealand, Auckland Museum, Auckland Art Gallery and The Dowse. The artist has also exhibited internationally in Australia, The Netherlands, United States, Switzerland and Turkey.
Gina Matchitt lived in Washington DC and Rome, Italy from 2007 until 2014. The artist graduated with a Masters in Mori Visual Arts from Massey University in 2011 and returned to Aotearoa/New Zealand with her whanau in 2014.
Selected Exhibitions
2019
Finalist, Wallace Art Awards - Pah Homestead, Auckland
Runner-Up, National Contemporary Art Award - Waikato Museum, Hamilton
2018
Papaki Pattern Crush with painter Janet Muir - Studio One Toi Tu, Auckland
POWER
International women's art exhibtion, co curated with photographer, Lely Constantinople
Lost Origins Gallery, Washington DC. USA
2017
Are Yous Okay? - Toi Poneke Gallery, Wellington, New Zealand
2014
Selfie Souvenir - Halka Art Project, Istanbul, Turkey
American Tourister - Artisphere, Roslyn, Virginia USA
Untitled - World Trade Organisation, Geneva, Switzerland
2012
Te Ahua Nei - City Gallery Wellington, New Zealand
2011
8th Annual Transformer Silent Auction and Benefit Party at the Corcoran Gallery of Art, Washington DC
nominated DC and international artists selected work for an exhibition, auction and benefit
2010
Finalist, Bold Horizon National Contemporary Art Award - Waikato Museum, Hamilton New Zealand
2009
Sweet ‘n’ Sour - Mary Newton Gallery, Wellington NZ
Plastic Maori -The New Dowse, Wellington NZ
2008
Te Taitanga - SouthWest School of Art, San Antonio, Texas USA
2007
E Kare You’re So Colonised - Mary Newton Gallery, Wellington NZ
Telecom Prospect - Wellington City Gallery, Wellington NZ
JOC (jewellery out of context) - Coda Museum, Netherlands
Making and Meaning - Object Gallery, Sydney, Australia
2006
Growing Up, 20 years of Unitec Jewellery Graduates - Objectspace, Auckland NZ
2005
Where Everyone Gets a Bargain - Anna Miles Gallery, Auckland NZ
2004
Geyserland Hotel - Anna Miles Gallery, Auckland NZ
Awards
2019 Runner -Up National Contemporary Art Award, Waikato Museum - Judge Dr Fiona Pardington
1999 Seppelt Art Award - Museum of Contemporary Art, Sydney, Australia
Public Collections
National
Auckland Art Gallery
Auckland Museum
Chartwell Collection, Auckland Art Gallery
Te Papa Tongarewa, The National Museum of New Zealand
The New Dowse, Wellington
Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Wellington, NZ
Parliamentary Collection, The Beehive, Wellington NZ
The University of Waikato, Hamilton
International
The World Trade Organisation - Geneva, Switzerland
Benetton Collection - Treviso, Italy
Private Collections - New Zealand, Australia, United States, Switzerland
Selected Publications
A History of Contemporary Jewellery in Australia and New Zealand -
by Damian Skinner and Kevin Murray/David Bateman NZ
Seen This Century, 100 New Zealand Artists – by Warwick Brown/RandomHouse NZ
Lost in Translation, New Zealand Stories – (cover photograph) editor Marco
Random House NZ