Ranga-Wairua weaves together the creative expressions of Tautari (Garry) Ahipene Gerrard. Garry’s mahi toi is born from profound appreciation and whakaute (respect) for all taonga and what he holds dear. Every taonga Garry creates is a precious embodiment of his life journey and is instilled with its own wairua.

By bringing together his work in recent years, Ranga-Wairua reflects on Garry’s journey to ‘develop all things precious to me.’

Toi Māori Aotearoa is proud to present this exhibition and whakanui the sentiments underpinning Garry’s work.

Kō wai tēnei?

Tautari (Garry) Ahipene Gerrard is an artist based in Wainuiomata whose work captures the delights of our natural work and contends with the dimensions of Rarohenga.

Born in Tūranga (Gisborne) and of Ngāti Porou descent, Garry’s artistic talents flourished at a young age and developed through formal training and self-taught techniques. Consequently, Garry enjoys working in various mediums and styles, from painting to ceramics, with his compositions freely incorporating highly realistic images and abstract Māori design.

Garry significantly contributes to the local art community of Te Awakairangi (Hutt Valley) and is a long-serving tutor at MIX: Connecting, Creating, Living, a mental health day service in Lower Hutt. His teaching philosophy is inclusive and encouraging, emphasising that there is no such thing as failure in art, only opportunities to learn and grow.

Garry strives to inspire and nurture the next generation of artists, sharing his passion and expertise through workshops with students of all ages and backgrounds. He hopes his fellow students develop a profound appreciation for the craft, encouraging them to create a legacy of creativity, aroha and wairua that transcends time and is passed down through generations.

A frequent exhibitor in galleries around Te Awakairangi and Pōneke, Garry is recognised as a prominent artist by his community and a finalist in the inaugural Kiingi Tuheitia Portrait Award 2021.