Stevei Houkāmau
Ngati Porou, Te Whanau a Apanui, Rangitane
Stevei's journey with uku started with a small pinch pot at a Wananga with guest tutors Wi Taepa, Manos Nathan and Baye Riddell in 2011.
From that moment on, her fascination, commitment and love of uku has continued to grow. Stevei is a member of Nga Kaihanga Uku (Maori Clayworkers Collective) and has been mentored in the early stages of her career by Wi Taepa.
Her works reflect the influence of her whakapapa and the impact and impression of her surrounding growing up in Porirua. You see a strong integrating of Maori and Pacific Island patterns that derive from Ta Moko and Tatau (tattoo). With a fascination and experince of Ta Moko and Tatau, She is interested in how these art forms are used to accentuate and frame the body while telling stories of a people…. past present and future.
Stevei has exhibited in many group exhibitions throughout Aotearoa (New Zealand) and overseas, and her work is held in national and international collections.
In 2014 she participated at Kokiri Putahi – The 7th International Indigenous Artists Gathering and the Ngapuhi Festival. In 2015 she participated in a Cross Cultural exchange and exhibition with Aboriginal Artists in Qld, Australia and spent time working with Native artists in New Mexico and Washington State, USA.
Most recently Stevei represented New Zealand at the 2016 Festival of Pacific Arts (FESTPAC) held in Guahan in May of 2016.
Recently Stevei has started to cross over into other mediums such as print making and Tattoo.
