Artwork of ngā manu (birds) of Aotearoa New Zealand
A DigitalNZ Story by National Library Services to Schools
A collection of artwork featuring manu (birds) of Aotearoa New Zealand by New Zealand artists.
DON BINNEY
Binney is renowned for his stylised landscapes and birds.
Source: Te Henga (Bethells Beach) – Auckland places – Te Ara Encyclopedia of New Zealand.
Puketōtara, twice shy
Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa
Conservation Day poster
Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage
Pacific frigate bird I
Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa
NIGEL BROWN
Nigel Brown’s paintings are expressionistic in style, but focus on social themes.
Birds together
Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa
Nigel Brown; Clear Bright Spaces, Oil on linen
Antarctica New Zealand
Cape Royds
Antarctica New Zealand
BILL HAMMOND
Bill Hammond developed a distinctive motif of part-bird, part-human figures often set in a comic-book Canterbury landscape.
Source:Expressionism and postmodernism – Te Ara Encyclopedia of New Zealand.
Traffic Cop Bay
Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa
Rest Area Limbo Ledge
Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki
SHANE COTTON
Shane Cotton (Ngāpuhi) often draws on New Zealand's contested past in his work.
Source: Shane Cotton – Contemporary Māori art – ngā toi hōu – Te Ara Encyclopedia of New Zealand
Shane Cotton
Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage
Forked Tongue
The Arts House Trust
Southern Cross
Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki
MORE MANU-RELATED ARTWORK
Explore more artwork by artists from Aotearoa New Zealand inspired by manu or feathers.
Pied Fantail
Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki
Manu te Kotuku
Tairāwhiti Museum Te Whare Taonga o Tairāwhiti
"Dawn Chorus"
Puke Ariki
Te Kurau Taunihihi II
Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki
Huia-feather headdresses
Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage
Tuisamoa
Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa
Kakariki II
Waikato Museum Te Whare Taonga o Waikato
Utua te kino ki te pai
Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki
King, Marcus, 1891-1983 :Kea (Alpine parrot), New Zealand [ca 1957]
Alexander Turnbull Library
Wounded bird
Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa
Maui and the fire goddess
Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki
Kikorangi Kōtare
The Arts House Trust
NGĀ TOI ANA (MĀORI ROCK ART)
Aotearoa (New Zealand) has a rich heritage of Māori rock art, including designs that are unique to this country. The rock-art styles introduced to Aotearoa by the first Polynesians were gradually modified into regional variations.
Māori rock art often shows everyday subjects such as people, birds, dogs and waka (canoes).
Enormous bird, Craigmore
Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage
Rock drawings
Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage
Rock-art postage stamps, 2012
Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage
SCULPTURE AND CARVING
Some examples of manu inspired sculpture and carving from galleries and museums around Aotearoa New Zealand.
He Manu Apo Kai Ngahere
Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki
Kia Ita
Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki
glass sculpture Kotaha
Auckland War Memorial Museum Tāmaki Paenga Hira
Manu
Tairāwhiti Museum Te Whare Taonga o Tairāwhiti
Bill Jarvis
Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki
He Aha Te Wa - Moments in Time
Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki
"The Tuis" wood sculpture
Canterbury Museum
Tangata Manu
Auckland War Memorial Museum Tāmaki Paenga Hira
Te Hokioi
Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki
SCULPTURE IN PUBLIC SPACES
Some examples of sculpture in public spaces around Aotearoa New Zealand.
Sculpture in Auckland Domain
Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage
"Kotuku"
New Zealand Outdoor Art
Featherweight | Paul Dibble
University of Waikato
Nga Huruhuru Rangatira public sculpture
Palmerston North City Library
"Ghost of the Huia" by Paul Dibble
Palmerston North City Library
Street art; corner of Main Street and Pine Avenue; fantail tree details.
Upper Hutt City Library
MURALS
Some examples of manu inspired murals around Aotearoa New Zealand.
Bradley Lane Project, Glen Innes, 2019
Auckland Libraries
"Only Birds"
New Zealand Outdoor Art
Main Street, north side; No. 137; mural in centre walk 1.
Upper Hutt City Library
"Tui"
New Zealand Outdoor Art
The Dream of E7
Kete Horowhenua
"Korimako and Piwakawaka"
New Zealand Outdoor Art
ACTIVITIES
Explore some activities to inspire learning about manu:
- Relief Modelling in Dough – Native Birds | Te Kete Ipurangi
- Create an image of your favourite manu (bird) | Te Papa
- The Kea | Dunedin Public Art Gallery
- How to Draw series | Kiwi Conservation Club
- Fun things to make: Conservation activities | Department of Conservation
- Art Making Activity: For the Birds | The Westmoreland Museum of American Art
This story was curated and compiled by Te Puna Mātauranga o Aotearoa | National Library of New Zealand, Services to Schools staff, July 2022.