Jessie Ngaio

I grew up in Rotorua, New Zealand where I was greatly inspired by the Maori culture and geothermal landscape. In 2007, I moved to Melbourne, Australia and studied at RMIT University, where I received my Masters in Fine Art.

Predominantly, I am a painter but have taken the medium into soft sculpture, photography, film and performance. My work explores notions of the carnival, childhood, sexuality, the ‘other’ and humour.

I am influenced and excited by many artists including the likes of Mike Kelley, Olaf Bruening, Paul McCarthy, Sarah Lucas, Tony Oursler, Junko Mizuno, Sylvie Fleury, Takashi Murakami, Patricia Piccinini, Jeff Koons, Cindy Sherman, Minako Nishiyama, Matthew Barney, Christine Webster, Portia Munson, Judy Darragh, Yoko d’Holbachie, Lynda Benglis, Elizabeth McGrath and Mark Ryden … just to name a few!

My art can be viewed at www.jngaio.com