My Story

UKU; clay/white clay/pottery 

Welcome, you have found UKU, home of sculptural jewellery!

It’s a peaceful, quiet space (in the middle of a dynamic area) and this allows me to work consciously with intuition and connection that I feel creates a stillness in my work.

 

Born in Manutuke, Gisborne, I am proud to be of Maori (Rongowhakaata) descent.

After finishing school, I left my ancestral home to travel extensively before settling at Muriwai Beach in West Auckland. 

This community has a strong connection with  Papatūānuku which ties to my original Tauranga Place and that reflects strongly in what I do and how I do it.

Uku for me is part of the next generation of makers creating consciously, with care of our surrounding environment. This is important to me, therefore all my work is hand crafted locally, using recycled materials when possible, such as gold and silver chains and boxed in NZ pine and wool.

 My days are spent playing with clay but I also have a background as an established abstract painter. I have spent the last several years developing new, complex techniques required in the making of wall and wearable sculpture.