Karen Walters

Drawing on her Māori and European heritage, Walters works from a profound connection to whenua, her practice imbued with the essence and vitality of Aotearoa’s landscape. Her selection of resilient hardwoods such as swamp kauri, here carbon dated at 1000 years old, underscores her commitment to creating timeless works while honouring the history of the timber.

Nine exquisitely faceted forms in tactile swamp kauri reach toward each other across the wall. Through depth of form, casting shadows and catching the light as it shifts through the day. The depth of colour and subtle variations in hue present in this aged timber must be viewed in the flesh, its shifting tones speaking captivatingly to its years and refined form.

Of the work, Walters says: “The stars embrace each other in their formation, symbolising the coming together of loved ones, while the negative space discloses circles and stars, giving recognition to powerful elements in the sky and ancestors passed.”

Artist Bio

Karen Walters is a contemporary sculptor based in New Zealand, drawing on her Māori and European heritage to inform her practice. Grounded in a profound connection to the whenua (land) her work is imbued with the essence and vitality of the New Zealand landscape, offering nuanced reflections on the human condition.

Utilising both bronze and native timber as her primary mediums, Walters demonstrates a meticulous approach to the detail in her work. Her selection of resilient hardwood such as Swamp Kauri for dimensional manipulation underscores her commitment to creating timeless works, while her investment in lost wax casting yields exquisitely crafted bronze pieces.

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