Josh Kiwikiwi is a contemporary Māori artist originally from Whangārei, Te Tai Tokerau, Aotearoa New Zealand, now based in Boorloo Perth, Western Australia. A self taught multidisciplinary artist, his practice explores whakapapa, identity, and cultural reclamation through portraiture, illustration, and mixed media.
Working across oils, acrylics, graphite, aerosol, sculpture, and digital mediums, Josh’s work blends realism and contemporary Māori expression with a strong focus on storytelling. Drawing inspiration from te ao Māori, indigenous narratives, and human connection, his practice reflects an ongoing exploration of culture, wairua, and belonging.
A pivotal question that has guided his journey in recent years is: “Am I an artist who is Māori, or a Māori artist?” This reflection ultimately led Josh to leave behind a career in retail management in 2024 to pursue his practice full time, reconnecting more deeply with te reo, whakapapa, and cultural identity through his work.
His nine piece collection “The Wāhine in Gold Series”, gained national recognition after being selected among the Top 50 Māori Made Products in Aotearoa. Since becoming a full time artist, Josh has collaborated with major brands including Cricut ANZ, exhibited throughout Aotearoa, and received commissions from collectors both nationally and internationally.
In 2025, Josh was named The King’s Trust Artist of the Year and invited to exhibit at Art in the Park at Eden Park, a milestone exhibition within his career. The same year, he became a finalist in the Kiingi Tuheitia Portraiture Award with his work “Lines of Whakapapa 2025,” exhibited through the national touring exhibition at Te Kōngahu Museum of Waitangi.
Josh is represented in Aotearoa by Artbay Gallery and Unity Collection, where he continues to develop new bodies of work exploring the intersection of contemporary Māori portraiture and cultural storytelling.
Now based in Boorloo alongside his partner Kait, Josh continues to create commissioned and exhibition work while preparing for upcoming exhibitions throughout 2026 and beyond. His practice remains grounded in the belief that portraiture can serve as a vessel for connection, memory, and the continuation of whakapapa across generations.
