Wi Taepa

Wi Te Tau Pirika Taepa (born in 1946 in Wellington) is a New Zealand ceramicist of Ngāti Pikiao, Te-Roro-o-Te-Rangi, Te Arawa and Te Āti Awa descent.^[1] In 1992 he obtained a Diploma in Craft Design from Whitireia Polytechnic and in 1999 graduated from Wanganui Polytechnic with a Bachelor of Fine Arts. In 2007 he received a Masters of Māori Visual Arts from Massey University, Palmerston North.^[2]

In 1986 Taepa, alongside Baye Riddell, Paerau Corneal, Colleen Urlich and Manos Nathan formed Ngā Kaihanga Uku, a collective of Māori clayworkers.^[3] In 2013 Uku Rere, an exhibition of the five founding members, was held at Pataka Art + Museum. In 2014 Uku Rere subsequently toured to Whangarei Art Museum: Te Manawa Toi, the Suter Art Gallery: Te Aratoi o Whakatu, Waikato Museum: Te Whare Taonga o Waikato, Tairawhiti Museum: Te Whare Taonga o te Tairawhiti, and Te Manawa Museum of Art, Science + History, Palmerston North.^[4]

Taepa has exhibited both nationally and internationally including a solo exhibition Wi Taepa at City Gallery Wellington (2012), Ngā Toko Rima at the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa (2005), Kiwa at Spirit Wrestler Gallery, Vancouver (2003), and the National Gallery of Zimbabwe (1995).^[5] He has received support from Creative New Zealand to attend residencies and carry out research.^[6] His work in held in private collections and also in Te Papa Tongarewa and Auckland Art Gallery.^[1][2][7]

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