Te Tira Wahine elevates and celebrates the creativity of our wāhine. Artist Mei Hill loves to explore and work with various materials including metallic foil, and through innovation Hill finds fresh creative angles. Karaehe, or glass, has featured in much of her creative work over the past twenty years. Hill’s contemporary works featuring Māori designs are anchored in kaupapa that resonate with her; she tries to find the poetry in all her designs. The artist’s greatest creative inspiration has been her mother, who was a “maker” of all things.

Mei Hill (Ngāti Whātua, Ngā Puhi, Te Aupōuri, Te Rarawa) established Patiki Gallery & Studio in Matariki, 2016. In 2021, Patiki changed from a gallery space in Te Awaroa – Helensville to Hill’s own private studio. Having worked most of her life not solely focused on her art practice but needing to pay the bills, Hill has embraced having a studio practice for the past six years–there she can dedicate time to her own creative work and explore ideas and different materials. Over the past four years, Hill has created specific cultural designs for new building development projects in North West Auckland and has advised on the integration of cultural design in significant CBD build projects.

Hill’s first major introduction to glass was through the cast glass artist Ann Robinson, and from there stepping stones led to exploration of glass techniques and travel to Portugal, Japan and India. From these travels she started to experiment with ceramics and glass, and began to create her own contemporary designs. Her artistic influences range from Ralph Hotere and Robyn Kahukiwa, to Frida Kahlo and Hundertwasser.