May creates intricate textile works combining hand embroidery and painterly elements. Her works are quirky and contemplative, with a strong narrative drive. She has a particular interest in the subjective experience of mental health treatment.
May graduated with a BFA (Film) from Ilam School of Fine Arts, Ōtautahi Christchurch, in 1992. Her short films from the 1990s, including the award-winning Feline, have been shown in art galleries and many international film festivals in Aotearoa NZ and internationally. May worked for several years in animation, illustration and design in Sydney; she returned to her art practice after coming back home with her young family in 2011.
May’s name reflects her paternal Dalmatian ancestry; she pronounces it as the anglicised “True-buh-vitch”. She also has Scottish ancestry, and she lives in Hikurangi (West Auckland).
