Innovative Kiwi women add a pop of colour to NZ Polo Open

Left to right: Creatives Yon Kavvas, Jen Sievers and Karla Goodwin with a horse Sievers hand painted for the Colourama Marquee at the NZ Polo Open. Photo / Doug Sherring

Creative Kiwi women have teamed up to add a splash of colour – including a life-size horse statue and a giant cake - to this year's Land Rover New Zealand Polo Open.

Karla Goodwin of popular Bluebells Cakery, Yon Kavvas of Clay Bird Ceramics and abstract acrylic artist Jen Sievers have produced a colourful fusion of art and food for the event's new Veuve Clicquot Colourama Marquee.

The trio have been tasked with bringing Madame Clicquot's creative spirit and passion for colour to life, to celebrate 200 years since one of history's great female entrepreneurs created the world's first blended rosé champagne.

Contemporary artist Sievers – who mostly paints on Perspex and paper – has transformed a life-size horse statue into a multicoloured work of art for the event.

"Which I've obviously never done before and was probably a once-in-a-lifetime sort of thing, so I thought why not," she said.

"I spent a day with a giant, white life-sized horse and put paint all over it, which was really amazing."

Sievers has also painted a bespoke artwork on Perspex with a splash-like pattern – in colours including rosé pink and famous Veuve Clicquot yellow - mimicking the movement of champagne.

"I love any situation where I get to be involved with other women who are doing beautiful things," said Sievers.

"I think people are opening up a lot more to women artists and women artisans. It's becoming such a normal thing these days. I think art particularly is an area that has been quite male-dominated for so many years and I think that women are on the rise, definitely."

Other creations set to feature in the marquee included colourful ceramics by talented artist Yon Kavvas and a four-tier, metre-tall cake created by Karla Goodwin.

Goodwin, the owner of Bluebells Cakery, learned her trade at Primrose Bakery in London – where clients included Kate Moss and U2.

"The flavours that we're creating are really summery and fresh. We've kept it in line with the rosé flavours…like strawberries and passionfruit – really fresh flavours," Goodwin said.

Land Rover New Zealand Polo Open is set to take place at the Auckland Polo Club in Clevedon on February 18. The exclusive Colourama Marquee is by invitation only only.