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-made 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.