Big apple artist is drawn home to Wanganui

Artist Lorene Taurerewa (left) with Diane Harries and Bernie Steyn from Quay School of the Arts. Photo Stuart Munro

It's a long way from New York to Wanganui, but artist Lorene Taurerewa is enjoying the contrast.

Originally from Wanganui, Ms Taurerewa has made New York her home for the past eight years. Now she's back in Wanganui for family reasons and is doing a short stint at the Quay School of the Arts as its artist in residence.

She has received numerous grants and a number of awards including, in 1997, winning the Martin Hughes Contemporary Pacific Art Award.

She graduated in 1996 from the Quay School of the Arts, and worked at Victoria University as a lecturer in drawing for several years.

For the past eight years she's been living in New York and working as an independent artist. She's exhibited in the United States, Hong Kong, Belgium, New Zealand and Australia.

Ms Taurerewa travels a lot, but New York is her base, where she has a home and studio in Brooklyn.

"[New York] is a very difficult place to start up, but I have had some great opportunities there. It's very bright and lively and full of people."

She's been working at the Quay School of the Arts in the print workshop, getting ready for a residency in Mexico. She leaves Wanganui in July.

Ms Taurerewa's drawings can range from 2m-high charcoal portraits with a commanding presence, to works on paper on a delicate scale. Taking inspiration from her Samoan, Chinese and European ancestry, Ms Taurerewa weaves personal and family historical narrative into her powerful drawings.

For more about Lorene Taurerewa, visit taurerewa.com.