I’m Ngarita King, a contemporary artist born in Aotearoa New Zealand and now living in the United Kingdom.

My Māori and European heritage, connection to nature and experiences throughout my life all find their way into my work.

My work is intuitive and expressive, and I love exploring colour, texture, layering and different materials. I’m inspired by the sea, sunlight, botanicals, travel and the natural world, as well as my Māori and European heritage.

For much of my life I have cared for and supported others. Creating art has become a place where I can explore, experiment and reconnect with myself.

My work doesn’t follow one fixed style. I enjoy allowing each collection to develop its own character, whether through vibrant abstract painting, mixed media, collage or more figurative work.

I’m particularly interested in the things we carry with us - memory, identity, heritage, place and the possibility of new beginnings.

WABI SABI

I’m drawn to the Japanese philosophy of wabi-sabi - finding beauty in imperfection, impermanence and the marks of time.

It reminds me that nothing stays the same. We change, we grow, we carry our experiences with us, and there can be beauty in what is unfinished, weathered or unexpected.

This way of seeing influences how I approach my work. I’m interested in texture, layers, contrast and the traces that emerge through the process of creating. Rather than seeking perfection, I allow the work to evolve and reveal its own character.

The photograph shows me practicing Kintsugi, which I learnt at a workshop in Kyoto, Japan earlier this year.

WHERE INTUITION LEADS

I don’t always know where a painting is going when I begin. I like to let the work evolve through colour, texture, layering and experimentation.

Sometimes I begin with an idea, a feeling or something I’ve seen. Other times the painting takes me somewhere unexpected. I enjoy the freedom and the process of discovering what emerges.

For me creating is as much about the journey as the finished piece.

RECOGNITION AND PUBLICATIONS

ArtEvol 2026 - Longlisted

Longlisted for ArtEvol 2026: A View From Everywhere, an international contemporary art showcase presented by London Art Collective.

Culturale Lab - Featured Artist

Featured in the print publication 100 World Women in Art 2026, selected for the visual exploration of heritage, language suppression, and identity within the series Mauri Ora Te Reo.