Term 2: Beginner Figurative Painting at Te Uru
Term 1 was such a beautiful ride with brave first brushstrokes and some seriously powerful paintings. So… we’re going again
Term 2: Beginner Figurative Painting
Fridays, 1 May – 12 June | 2–4PM
Te Uru Gallery, Titirangi
If you’ve been thinking about starting painting (or finally giving it a proper go), this is your sign. We’ll break it all down, drawing, colour, light, brushwork, step by step, in a relaxed, supportive space.
No experience needed. Just show up.
$300 | Materials included
Enrol: https://teuru.org.nz/.../figurative-painting-naomi...
Rage and the Machine | Pop-up Exhibition
I’m uber excited to announce my upcoming solo exhibition, Rage and the Machine.
I’ve been working on this series of portraits for the last couple of years. I began by generating images with AI, exploring it as a possible tool, and thinking critically about how it reflects complex social issues back to us. I then manipulated the images in Photoshop and painted them onto large canvases.
The results are intense, bold and powerful. Seeing these larger-than-life faces in person creates a real physical presence that pulls you in like no screen can.
As always, I’ll be hosting a lively opening (it’s becoming a bit of a tradition) with strictly vinyl DJs, nibbles and drinks sponsored by Hallertau.
Rage and the Machine | Pop-up Exhibition
Ūkaipō Creative Space
249 Symonds St.
Tāmaki Makaurau
Friday 1st to Sunday 3rd May
Opening event: Saturday, 2nd May, 2–5 pm
Ngā Uri E! Collage Workshop at Glen Eden Library
Last weekend, I facilitated the Ngā Uri E! collage workshop at Glen Eden Library.
Thank you to everyone who joined us for a morning of thoughtful making and reflection on identity, whakapapa, and personal journeys. It was a rich and engaged group, with participants spanning a wide range of ages and backgrounds — including some who travelled in from town to attend.
I’m grateful to share this feedback from participant Jen Aldridge (The Gentle Art Company):
"The free workshop I attended at Glen Eden Library, championed by the mega-talented Naomi Azoulay, was brilliant!
Naomi guided us with prompts and a massive pile of magazines and quality books to choose from. With absolutely everything provided, it was amazing just to turn up and get stuck in. I chose to explore ‘Where I come from’. Naomi circulated regularly and offered guidance or encouragement; she was very present and available to assist. The main takeaway for me was her encouragement to be intuitive in our exploration of material and storytelling.
I was sitting between a lovely senior and an Industrial Archaeologist. I was amazed at the broad range of people there to explore collage on a deeper level. Naomi led with a lovely energy and vibe, which the room responded to.
The 4-hour workshop was extremely pleasant, and Glen Eden Library was a fantastic venue. I would do this workshop again in a heartbeat. I’d also encourage others to do the same. It was incredible to learn from someone so accomplished and free in her own creativity."
Thank you, Jen, for your generous words.
Community-based creative spaces like this continue to remind me how powerful accessible, facilitated art-making can be; in libraries, galleries, and shared public spaces.
Beginner Figurative Painting (8-week course)
Te Uru Waitākere Contemporary Gallery — Fridays, 2–4 pm
13 February – 27 March | Materials included
This beginner-friendly painting course is designed for those who want to learn figurative painting in a clear, supportive, and encouraging way — even if you’ve never painted before.
Led by artist and educator Naomi Azoulay, the course breaks down the fundamentals of figurative painting into manageable, step-by-step processes. Participants will be guided through drawing for painting, proportion, light and shadow, colour mixing, and brush handling, with demonstrations and plenty of time to practice.
Working on a stretched canvas, you’ll develop your own figurative painting from start to finish, learning practical methods Naomi uses in her own studio practice to simplify the painting process and overcome common beginner challenges.
The focus is as much on building confidence as it is on technical skill. Classes take place in a safe, welcoming, and non-judgemental environment where questions are encouraged, and progress happens at your own pace.
All materials are included.
Details:
📍 Te Uru Waitākere Contemporary Gallery
📅 Fridays, 2–4pm
🗓 13 February – 27 March
🎨 Materials included
🎯 Suitable for absolute beginners
Intuitive Collage on Wood (8-week course)
Parnell Community Centre — Wednesdays, 6–8pm
Starts 11 February | All materials included
Intuitive Collage on Wood is an 8-week course designed for anyone curious about collage as a rich, expressive, and deeply personal art form.
Guided by multidisciplinary artist Naomi Azoulay, this course draws directly from her studio practice, sharing the collage portrait techniques she uses in her own work. Participants will be introduced to a range of approaches to cutting, layering, composition, and image selection, while being encouraged to trust intuition and develop their own visual language.
The emphasis throughout the course is on process rather than perfection. You’ll experiment freely with found imagery, texture, and colour, allowing ideas to unfold organically over time. Working on a wooden board, each participant will create a resolved collage portrait — this may be a self-portrait, a portrait of someone you love or admire, or even a beloved pet.
This course is ideal for beginners, curious creatives, and anyone wanting to reconnect with their creativity in a supportive, non-judgemental environment.
Details:
📍 Parnell Community Centre
📅 Wednesdays, 6–8 pm
🗓 Starts 11 February (8 weeks)
🎨 All materials provided, including a wooden board
✨ No prior art experience required
A Free Collage Workshop- Stories Carried Across Waters
Glen Eden Library — Saturday 21 February, 10am–2pm Free | Ages 15+ | All materials provided. This free, hands-on collage workshop invites participants to explore the stories, journeys, and lineages that shape who we are and how we belong in Tāmaki Makaurau. Inspired by the kaupapa of Ngā Uri E! — the understanding that we are all descendants of movement, migration, struggle, and tide — Stories Carried Across Waters offers a space to reflect on identity, whakapapa, and connection through intuitive collage-making. Working with upcycled imagery, colour, and texture, participants will create visual narratives that honour resilience, self-determination, and the ways our lives are interwoven. Through mindful cutting, layering, and reassembling, we’ll explore how personal and collective histories can be held, disrupted, and reimagined. This is a space for experimentation rather than perfection — an open, supportive environment where curiosity is encouraged, and there is no “right” way to make. No prior art experience is needed, just a willingness to explore and create.
Details:
📍 Glen Eden Library
📅 Saturday 21 February
⏰ 10am–2pm
👥 Open to ages 15+
🎨 All materials provided
💛 Free, no experience required
Pop! Punch! Sip! A collage workshop at Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki
Enjoy the colourful energy, humour and playful spirit of Pop art in this creative collage workshop inspired by 'Pop to Present: American Art from the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts'. Using magazines, coloured paper, comic elements, markers and punchy text, you’ll create your own vibrant composition, incorporating a self-portrait taken with one of the Gallery’s thermal instant-print cameras.
This relaxed, social workshop invites you to experiment freely with colour, shape and words. No experience is needed – just curiosity and a willingness to play. Enjoy a beverage from the bar upon arrival – your first drink is free and the snacks are on us!
4 Dec 2025
5.30—7.30pm or 8—10pm
To get your tickets, go to: https://www.aucklandartgallery.com/whats-on/event/pop-punch-sip
Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s passing anniversary
Today marks the anniversary of Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s passing—the OG of fighting the system and shattering glass ceilings.
I made my first collage of her while she was still alive and the second after her passing. The emotions behind each piece were worlds apart. The first is displayed at the Manukau District Court, and the second at Auckland District Court. I like to think of them as visual reminders of gender equality. One of the judges said RBG was giving him her stern look, like a Jewish mother-in-law. I call that a success.
Rest in power, RBG.
1. Justice
2. Dissent
Feminist Collage Workshop at
A dynamic, hands-on workshop of an intuitive collage-making process inspired by feminist themes. Through the selection of images, colours, and textures, we will challenge dominant narratives, reclaim the female gaze, and construct powerful visual stories that celebrate resistance, identity, and self-determination.
This workshop invites creative experimentation and personal expression—no prior experience is needed, only curiosity and a willingness to explore, disrupt, and create.
Open to all individuals aged 15 and up.
Studio One Toi Tū.
Saturday 23 Aug, 10am-2pm
https://www.studioone.org.nz/courses/
10 July 2025
Feature in Your Home & Garden Magazine
Thrilled to be featured in the current Your Home & Garden magazine’s Woman We Love section.
24 June 2025
CONNECTION Group Show at Kumeu Arts
The CONNECTION Creative Connections podcast (previously Creative Matters) group show is coming up at Kumeu Arts.
We are more than 60 participating artists working in various mediums.
The Connection group show - from 23 June until 19 July at Kumeu Arts.
Gallery hours are Tues-Fri 9-5, Sat 10-4.
6 June 2025
Stick With It !
I’m excited to team up with The Upstairs Gallery to mark World Collage Day on 10 May 2025 with something special: free collage kits!
These kits are packed with vibrant, upcycled materials—perfect for sparking creativity at any age or experience level.
Limited kits available—swing by and grab yours while they last!
from 10 am, Sat 10 May at the Upstairs Gallery, Lopdell House, Titirangi.
Celebrate creativity, sustainability, and community—one collage at a time!
23 April 2025
Where Are You From? at the Manurewa Library
Where Are You from? at Manurewa Library
It all begins with an idea. Maybe you want to launch a business. Maybe you want to turn a hobby into something more. Or maybe you have a creative project to share with the world. Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.
Don’t worry about sounding professional. Sound like you. There are over 1.5 billion websites out there, but your story is what’s going to separate this one from the rest. If you read the words back and don’t hear your own voice in your head, that’s a good sign you still have more work to do.
Be clear, be confident and don’t overthink it. The beauty of your story is that it’s going to continue to evolve and your site can evolve with it. Your goal should be to make it feel right for right now. Later will take care of itself. It always does.
16 April 2025
Where Are You From? at the Upstairs Gallery
Where Are You From? at Upstairs Gallery as part of the World of Cultures festival
A Celebration of Cultural Diversity in Aotearoa at the Upstairs Gallery, Lopdell House from Saturday 29 March 10AM to Sunday 30 March 4PM as part of the World of Cultures Festival.
I’m excited to share my exhibition Where Are You From?, at the Upstairs Gallery, Lopdell House. This series of large-scale oil portraits celebrates Aucklanders from a rich tapestry of ethnic backgrounds, reflecting the diversity of people who call this place home.
Through bold colours and layered textures, these works challenge narrow ideas of what it means to be a New Zealander and invite us to see Tamaki Makaurau through a lens of identity, inclusivity, and shared humanity.
The exhibition will also include a collage workshop where participants can create their own contributions to the conversation.
A family-friendly workshop, open to all ages and skill levels, hands-on session, on Sat 29 March from 12 to 2pm.
No booking is needed and all materials are provided.
24 March 2025
M/Otherhood Exhibition Opening
Thank you to everyone who made it to our group exhibition M/Otherhood at The Upstairs Gallery.
Tomorrow (Wed) is the last day to see this pop-up exhibition with excellent artworks from artists: Ooak_nz, Tatiana Harper Photography, Ronja Schipper and Roberta Queiroga.
11 March 2025
M\Otherhood Group Exhibition at Upstairs Gallery
M/Otherhood Pop-Up Group Show
Opening this Friday from 6pm at Upstairs Art, Lopdell House, Titirangi.
The exhibition will run over the weekend and into early next week, closing on Wednesday.
Join us for the opening night — there’ll be drinks, nibbles, and a chance to meet all the participating artists:
Tatiana Harper Photography, Roberta Queiroga, OOAK NZ, and Ronja Schipper.
We’d love to see you there!
5 March 2025
Feminist Collage Workshop at Gus Fisher Gallery, inspired by the Having It All, All, All exhibition
I couldn't be more excited to be running a Feminist Collage Workshop inspired by the Having It All, All, All exhibition at Gus Fisher Gallery, this Saturday, 1 March, 1-4pm.
This workshop is an invitation to challenge dominant narratives, reclaim the female gaze, and craft new forms of visual storytelling. Through layering, deconstruction, and reassembly, we will create collages that celebrate defiance, self-determination, and feminist resistance—honouring the artists who reshaped the cultural landscape. No prior experience is needed—just curiosity and a willingness to explore, disrupt, and create.
This workshop is suitable for ages 15 and up, with all materials provided.
https://gusfishergallery.auckland.ac.nz/upcoming-events/
25 February 2025
Collage Your Xmas Cards 2024
What an incredible December it’s been! For the third year running, my Collage Your Xmas Cards pop-up series brought together over 300 participants across seven vibrant events in Auckland. Together, we created over 500 of the most heartfelt, unique, and artistic Christmas cards you’ll ever see!
The energy was palpable as tables filled with families, groups of friends, and creatives chatting, sharing ideas, and inspiring one another. The events were a beautiful reminder of the magic that happens when diverse cultures, ages, and faiths come together in a shared space.
A grandmother returned for her third year, this time with three generations of her family crafting cards for neighbours, friends, and family.
From kids picking up scissors for the first time to grandparents collaging alongside their grandchildren, the events truly celebrated all generations.
These events wouldn’t have been possible without the generous support of our sponsors: Creative Communities Scheme Auckland, Orakei Local Board and the Lopdell House Trust.
Thank you to our hosts: Studio One Toi Tu, Leys Institute Little Library, Lopdell House, Grey Lynn Library, The Community of St.Luke, St Heliers Community Centre and the Remuera Library.
And thank you to everyone who joined us and ended up with sticky fingers!
Here is a short video showcasing the highlights of the series—the smiles, the stories, and the beautiful cards created.
20 December 2024
Te Hau Kapua at Depot Art Space
My collage, 'Te Hau Kapua,' is part of the Re-directed Exhibition—a collaborative project between First Thursdays Devonport, Harbour Hospice, and Depot Artspace.
The auction is happening tomorrow night, Thursday, at Depot Artspace, and there’s still time to get involved! All proceeds from my artwork will go directly to Harbour Hospice, supporting the fantastic work they do in our community.
If you can’t make it to the event in person, you can still place your bids online. This is a cool opportunity to own a unique piece of art while contributing to a great cause.
Check out the auction and place your bid here: https://shorturl.at/92cUj
Thank you for your support, and I hope to see some of you at the event tomorrow!
December 4, 2022
Re-directed - a pop-up exhibition in Devenport
Re-Directed Art is a pop-up exhibition in collaboration between First Thursdays Devonport, Harbour Hospice, and DEPOT.
Using artworks lovingly gifted by Harbour Hospice, 25 local artists have applied their creative genius to re-direct the artworks into something new - embedding their work into the original.
Saturday 30 November - Thursday 5 December
3 Victoria Road, Devonport
30% of the proceeds from each artwork will go to Harbour Hospice, with some artists choosing to donate more.
Special Event
On Thursday 5 December from 7-8pm at 3 Vic Road, DEPOT will host a Mix & Mingle silent auction with refreshments. Bidding finishes at 7:30pm with the highest bid on the night winning the artwork!
If you are at the Mix & Mingle you can take the artwork with you unwrapped or come back the next day to pick it up wrapped. The re-directed artworks have also been printed on T-shirts which will be available to purchase online.
All are welcome to attend this special event, looking forward to seeing you there!
December 3, 2024