Āti Haunui a Pāpārangi, Ngāti Kahungunu ki Wairarapa, Rangitane.
Metiria Stanton Turei was raised in Palmerston North and now lives in Dunedin, Aotearoa. She has a law degree from the University of Auckland and a Graduate Diploma from the Dunedin School of Art. She works for the University of Otago in the Faculty of Law and continues her studies at the Dunedin School of Art, Otago Polytechnic. Metiria built a career as a social activist, lawyer and member of the New Zealand Parliament over nearly 20 years before moving to develop her art practice. Her art work focuses on Māori self determination in the present and the future and is primarily in performative textiles, activated on the body and presented in film and photographs.
Recent exhibitions
2019 Astronesian, Hōpua Whakaata, Te Kuratini o Otakou, group show
2019 Kurangaituku Whakora, Piata Mai Matariki Festivval, Dunedin, group show
2019 Mahuika Tokorua, Art in Law XVII, University of Otago, group show
2019 Tūruapō Astronesian 3000 series, AS Gallery, Webb Farry Law, Dunedin, solo show
2018 Tūruapō Astronesian 3000 series, SITE 2018, Dunedin School of Art, Te Kura Matatini o Otago, group show
2018 Whakaniwha, wa o mua, Blue Oyster Art Project Space, Dunedin, group show
2017 Activist Handbag installation, Murky Waters, AWA HQ, Dunedin, group show
Media and Publications
Spinoff Two Sketches: Metiria Turei August 2019
Art Zone 80, New tools, same battle. July 2019
Natives Be Woke The Aunties korero with multi-media artist Metiria Turei June 2019
Otago Daily Times Former politician shares her art April 2019
Spinoff Metiria Turei Beyond Politics October 2018
Awards
2019 Excellence in Photography for Mahuika Manawaroa, Cleveland National Art Awards, Dunedin
2018 Textile Award, Dunedin School of Art, Te Kura Matatini o Otago
2018 Outstanding Technical Achievement for Frankensplurta Rock Opera, Hairy Minded Productions, Dunedin Fringe Festival