“ Tuffery’s journey is an open and expansive one, its wonder and revelations shared generously, as a gift, in his art. It illuminates the sea around him, showing us aspects of our world, our society and our lives that would otherwise remain unseen. ”
Tim Walker, Director, TheNewDowse, New Zealand

Welcome to micheltuffery.co.nz

Michel Tuffery M.N.Z.M is an acclaimed printmaker, painter and sculptor, who is constantly exploring, collaborating and innovating. Always open to new ways of seeing, he crosses artform boundaries to create performance, sound and installation art.

In 2008 Michel was honoured with becoming a Member of the New Zealand Merit of Order in the Queens Honours List for services to the Arts and is the youngest recipient for the Arts to be acknowledged.

A New Zealand based artist of Samoan, Rarotongan and Tahitian heritage, Tuffery likens the role of the artist to that of a journalist – asking questions, investigating and telling stories from fresh perspectives. For Tuffery, art is his first language. It’s the way he communicates his ideas on the world around him; his cultural heritage and the diverse cultural fabric that makes up New Zealand; and the changing nature of life in the Pacific region.

Tuffery’s art features in major Public and Private collections throughout the world. He has received several National and International arts residencies, public commissions, awards and has exhibited extensively in solo and group exhibitions including;

  • Samoa Contemporary (2008 – 2009) Pataka Museum, Porirua, NZ;
  • Pasifika Styles (2006 -2008) University of Cambridge Museum, UK;
  • Tangata o le Moana (2007 – 2017) Museum of N.Z Te Papa Tongarewa, Wellington, N.Z;
  • First Contact (2007) Pataka Museum, Porirua, N.Z;
  • Across Oceans and Time (2007) Kaohsiung Museum of Fine Arts, Taiwan, R.O.C;
  • Dateline (2007) NBK Gallery, Berlin, Germany;
  • News from Islands, Campbelltown Art Gallery, Sydney, Australia (2007);
  • Paradise Now? (2004) Asia Society Museum, New York, USA;

Latest News

Michel is the 2010 Artist in Residence at Kings College, Auckland.

Opening 16-28 April, 2010 Tiaho - Contemporary Photography from Oceania exhibition will show across the city at three venues;
1. The Instituto Latino de Mexico
2. The Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico, Mexico City
3. The Palacio Municpal de Ciudad Nezahualcoyaott, Mexico State curated by Giles Peterson and includes Michel’s documented Povi Tau Vaga – The Challenge (bullfight) Performance Artworks and still images.

Opening 6 April - 6 July, 2010 Nui Pasifik – Urban Art from the Pacific Rim, Gorman University Art Gallery, San Francisco curated by Giles Peterson which includes Michel’s 2009 Graph Stencil work.

Opening 1-29 April, 2010 'A Beautiful Place' Gallery 33, Michel presents new works on Tapa cloth and Canvas. http://www.gallery33.co.nz

Manuia - 'Contemporary Cook Island Art exhibition opened by Helen Clark 15 March - 29 May, 2010 at The American Indian Community House Gallery, New York, curated by Ben Bergman, Michel's bull scultpure works sell on opening night.

In the December 2009 publication of Art Asia Magazine curator Laura Cassidy Rogers, De Jong Museum, San Francisco has featured an editorial on Michel's inspirational Sculpture and Perfornance Artworks. http://www.aapmag.com