The New Zealand Portrait Gallery Te Pukenga Whakaata is very pleased announce that entries are now invited for the 2025 Te Kiingi Tuheitia Portraiture Award for young Māori artists. The award, launched in 2020, aims to inspire a new generation of Māori artists to create portraits of their tūpuna (ancestors).
The Kiingi Tuheitia Portraiture Award is a competition that encourages young Maaori artists to create portraits of their tupuna (ancestors) in any medium. The Award is hosted and administered by Te Pūkenga Whakaata the New Zealand Portrait Gallery in honour of the late Maaori King, Kiingi Tuheitia Pootatau Te Wherowhero VII.
The Kiingi Tuheitia Portraiture Award provides young Māori artists with the opportunity to showcase their talents on the national stage, while also playing an important role in recording and celebrating tūpuna (ancestors) and their stories.
The Award culminates with an exhibition of finalist artworks at The New Zealand Portrait Gallery Te Pūkenga Whakaata in Wellington over a three month period, timed to coincide with Matariki. Judging of the shortlisted works is undertaken by a distinguished panel at the opening of the exhibition.
Entries close 4pm on Thursday 20 March 2025 and the winners will be announced at the exhibition opening on Wednesday 21 May 2025.