Celebrated Maori artist inspires local talent

Born in 1957, James is of Ngati Manipoto, Waikato, Te Arawa and Ferguson Clan descent. One of three children, he developed an interest in art and teaching at an early age.

“One of my first school memories was sitting in an empty class room in recess, and drawing,” reflects James. “Starting with a large empty sheet I’d carefully draw several battle lines. There'd be Air Force planes, army tanks and cannons - but no people. When I’d finished the landscape I’d immediately start a battle - a fighter jet would usually drop a bomb! An active war would then be underway. Numerous dots and lines would quickly trace missiles, bombs and bullets all over the paper. By the end of recess my paper and hands would be completely grey with “black beauty” graphite. My joy of mark making had begun.”

Raised and educated in Hamilton, James left Hamilton’s Teachers Training College in 1981 to head off over the ditch to Australia. Settling in Melbourne, James spent more than 13 years working and studying for a degree in Education then tutoring in Design at the University of Melbourne. He returned to New Zealand in 1995 to help establish the first Indigenous Art School with Crown Status – Te Kura Toi, at Wananga o Aotearoa. He tutored in drawing, painting, European and Maori art theory, as well as producing work for group exhibitions and Marae commissions.