Andy Leleisi'uao Explained

Andy Leleisi'uao
Nationality:New Zealand
Awards:2021 Senior Pacific Artist Award, 2017 Paramount Winner, 26th annual Wallace Art Awards
Alma Mater:Auckland University of Technology
Style:figurative paintings
Known For:painting
Birth Place:Auckland, New Zealand

Andy Leleisi’uao (b. 1969) is a New Zealand artist of Samoan heritage known for his modern and post-modern Pacific paintings and art.[1] He was paramount winner at the 26th annual Wallace Art Awards in 2017 and awarded a Senior Pacific Artist Award at the Arts Pasifika Awards in 2021.[2]

Background

Leleisi’uao was born in 1969 New Zealand and grew up in Māngere, South Auckland. He has one sister, his parents were both born in Samoa and are Pepe (Lalomauga, Upolu) and Tuifa’asisina Tinou'amea (Palauli, Savai'i).[3] [4] [5] Leleisi'uao went to Māngere College and afterwards had some factory jobs.[6] He studied at the Auckland University of Technology (AUT) School of Art and Design and received the first ever Pasifika Scholarship in 2000. In 2002 Leleisi’uao graduated with a Master of Fine Arts (with Honours).[7] He has been a full time artist since 1996.[8]

He has attended a number of arts residencies including a Research Scholarship at Macmillan Brown Centre for Pacific Studies, University of Canterbury, and the McCahon House Artists’ Residency in 2010.[9] He spent three months in Taiwan in 2010 on an Asia New Zealand Foundation residency with the Taipei Artist Village.[10]

Leleisi'uao has been based in the Auckland suburb of Māngere for over 40 years. He said about artists in an interview with Ema Tavola "For any artist to be mentally fecund, they have to be open."

Some of the visual references in his work are Stone Age rock art, classical Greek vase painting, Egyptian hieroglyphs, and Samoan siapa (tapa) cloth.[11] It is said in his paintings that reoccurring motifs, "remind us of the inherent humanity of his creatures, and the universality of their struggle and endeavour within a limited existence". His work style has changed over the years of his practice, in the late 1990s his paintings were highly politicized dealing with subjects such as prejudice and racism, poverty and youth suicide amongst Pacific Island populations in New Zealand. Since the 2000s his work utilises 'mythology and spiritualism' with 'fantastical creatures' although still drawing upon 'social dislocation'.[12]

Leleisi'uao had quite a few exhibitions in New York City. In 2009, Leleisi'uao had a solo exhibition Asefeka of the Unmalosa in Kips Gallery, Chelsea, New York. he returned to New York City in 2010 with the BCA group show MANUIA, co-curated by Mahiriki Tangaroa and Ben Bergman, exhibiting with artists Mike Tavioni, Michel Tuffery, Sylvia Marsters, Kay George, Jerome Shedden, and Mahikiri Tangaroa. In 2011, Leleisi'uao had a solo exhibition The Ufological City of New York with BCA Gallery (now Bergman Gallery) at VOLTA New York.[13] [14] In 2021, Leleisi'uao and Bergman Gallery participated in Tokyo International Art Fair, Japan[15]

His 2006 exhibition Empowered Wallflower - Whitespace, Ponsonby was about a new generations relationship to Fa'a Samoa and how domestic aspects such as using a traditional salu broom are important.[16]

In 2017 he won the Wallace Art Awards including a six-month residency in New York the 'International Studio and Curatorial Programme'.

His art work is held in the collections of Christchurch Art Gallery, The Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa, the Auckland Art Gallery, the Chartwell Collection, and the James Wallace Arts Trust collection.[17] And also Auckland University Collection, BCA Collection, Casula Powerhouse, Frankfurt Museum, Ilam University Collection, Manukau City Collection and Pataka Museum of Arts and Cultures.

Awards

Selected residencies

Selected solo exhibitions

This is a small selection of exhibitions. By 2019 Leleisi'uao had already had 85 solo exhibitions, and many groups ones.

Selected group exhibitions

This is a small selection of exhibitions. By 2019 Leleisi'uao had already had 85 solo exhibitions, and many groups ones.[22]

Book

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Tokalau. Torika. 2021-11-15. Pacific artists recognised for contribution to Pacific art in Aotearoa. 2022-02-13. Stuff. en.
  2. Web site: 2021-11-22 . Pacific contribution to art recognised . Ministry for Pacific Peoples.
  3. Web site: Mapping Creative Hustle. 2022-02-13. Māngere-Ōtāhuhu Arts. en-US.
  4. Web site: Andy LELEISI'UAO. 2022-02-13. Wallace Arts Trust Collection Online. en.
  5. Web site: Andy Leleisi'uao 55 Artworks at Auction. 2022-02-13. MutualArt. en.
  6. Web site: Dionne. Christian. Wallace winner feels the magic. 2022-02-13. NZ Herald. en-NZ.
  7. Leleisi'uao . Andy . 2004 . Masters thesis . My Samoan accent: An investigation discussing issues that emanate out of my identity as a New Zealand born Samoan artist . Tuwhera Open Access, Auckland University of Technology . 10292/11195.
  8. Web site: Current Exhibitions. 2022-02-13. Hastings City Art Gallery.
  9. Web site: Andy Leleisi’uao McCahon House. 2022-02-13. McCahon House. en.
  10. Web site: Controversial "Kamoan" artist Andy Leleisi'uao to complete inaugural Taiwanese arts residency – profile –. 2022-02-13. ArtRadarJournal.
  11. Web site: Andy Leleisi'uao. 2022-02-14. Milford Galleries Queenstown. en.
  12. Web site: 2017-10-27. Andy Leleisi’uao wins prestigious Wallace art award. 2022-02-13. NBR. en.
  13. Web site: A Diasporic Pulse of Faith & Patience Andy Leleisi’uao . 2023-10-19 . Artnow . en.
  14. Web site: Smith . Rachel . An Art Journey to Venice . 2023-10-19 . Issuu . Escape Magazine of the Cook Islands.
  15. Web site: 2023-10-19 . Tokyo International Art Fair 2021 Official Catalogue . Issuu.
  16. Web site: 2006-03-28. Andy Leleisi'uao "Empowered Wallflower". 2022-02-13. The Big Idea. en.
  17. Web site: Dispersed Humanoids Part I. 2022-02-13. Christchurch Art Gallery.
  18. Web site: 2017-09-13 . Paramount winner at Wallace Art Awards from South Auckland . 2022-02-13 . RNZ . en-nz.
  19. Web site: Te Uru Waitakere Contemporary Gallery Andy Leleisi’uao: Unbeautiful evening . 2023-10-19 . en-US.
  20. Web site: 2021-11-23 . Exhibition Artis Gallery - Andy Leleisi'Uao . 2022-02-13 . Parnell . en-US.
  21. Web site: Andy Leleisi'uao . 2022-02-13 . BERGMAN GALLERY . en-NZ.
  22. Web site: Book: Andy Leleisi'uao - KAMOAN MINE. 2022-02-13. Moana Fresh. en.
  23. Web site: Horizon . 2023-09-27 . artguide.artforum.com . en-US.
  24. Web site: SOUTH-VERSED 23 at Depot Artspace Artsdiary 3935 . 2023-09-27 . www.artsdiary.co.nz.
  25. Web site: "Tusiata O Le Tala O Le Vavau" at Mangere Arts Centre Artsdiary 3927 . 2023-09-27 . artsdiary.co.nz.
  26. Web site: Fa’atasi . 2023-09-27 . Artnow . en.
  27. Web site: Vano . Kendall . 2022-07-13 . Bergman Gallery Exhibition: Te Atuitanga - Between our Cloak of Stars . 2023-09-27 . TP+ . en-NZ.
  28. Web site: Andy Leleisi'uao - Exhibitions . 2023-09-27 . Bergman Gallery . en.
  29. Web site: A Diasporic Pulse of Faith & Patience Andy Leleisi’uao . 2023-09-27 . Artnow . en.
  30. Book: Bergman, Ben . Andy Leleisi'uao: MAMOAN MINE . Bergman Gallery, TSB Wallace Arts Centre, Creative New Zealand . 2019 . Auckland, new Zealand . en.

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