Tohunga toi Fred Graham (Ngāti Korokī Kahukura), who was previously awarded Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit in the 2018 New Year’s Honours and the New Zealand 1990 Commemoration Medal, has now been appointed Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit.
Upon the announcement of the news, he thanked those who supported his nomination, though he sadly noted his wife Norma of 67 years, who would usually celebrate with him, had recently passed away.
He said that making a living solely from art is very difficult, so when an artist receives an award, it gives him hope and encouragement to continue.
Throughout his career, he has represented New Zealand at numerous international exhibitions, including the 1986 ‘Te Ao Marama’ (‘Seven Māori Artists’) exhibition that toured Australia, and a 1992 tour of the United States showcasing contemporary Māori art.
One his pitoval moments in his career that shaped his path as an artist started at Dunedin T.C studying to be an art teacher.
“I was accepted and a year later was posted to Rotorua to teach in native schools in due course I moved to Kaitaia. I enjoyed teaching art and developed my own work in my spare time.
“Meeting others who did the thrid year course that I did and were Māori was extra special to me. As a group we created what became known as the contemporary Māoi art movement.”
Graham said that one of the main roles of toi Māori is to support and mentor all Māori students who have graduated with an arts education, helping to nurture them into future leaders.
“From this group will emerge our future leaders who will through theri work ensure that our identity and culture will endure.”
He mentors young sculptors and artists and has created sculptures displayed in cities and towns across New Zealand, as well as in galleries in Seattle, Vancouver, and South Korea.
Graham has an impressive range of achievements, including serving as an art adviser to Māori primary schools in Rotorua and Northland, and as the head of the art department at several schools across the North Island.
Since 1996, he has been a member of the Haerewa Māori Cultural Advisory Group at the Auckland Art Gallery, organised one of the first exhibitions of contemporary Māori painting and sculpture in Hamilton, and more recently, exhibited at the Venice Biennale.
