Andrew Barns-Graham is an established Auckland-based artist known for his hard-edged contemporary portraits with a pop realist style. He renders smooth, gradient-infused figures set against minimal, atmospheric landscapes.In this episode we talk about the pivotal moment that led to Andrew devoting himself to his art practice after a career in advertising. Andrew tells us about a traumatic near death experience and how that has influenced his art practice, his outlook and the way he lives his life.We discuss the different phases of portraiture Andrew has explored throughout his practice, and the ideas behind these series of works - from themes communicating nostalgia, identity, social issues, scientific ideas and the past/present/future to climate change and outer space. He talks about the women in his paintings, his titles, the symbols in his work, the eyes and gazes of his subjects and the significance of his landscapes.Andrew explains how Arthaus Contemporary, a community based contemporary artist run space, came about and how it works, which BTW is a wonderful space for artists to rent for their own exhibitions and a very good rate. Andrew's solo exhibition at Arthaus Contemporary opens on November 19th and closes Nov 30th 2025, with an opening event on Thursday 20th Nov. I'll to see you there!This is a gorgeous chat - thank you to Andrew for letting me take up his precious time while he was preparing for his show and thank you lovely listener for joining us.See Andrew's work on our blogSupport the showNgā mihi, thanks for listening! Follow CREATIVE CONNECTIONS on InstagramLearn more about Creative Connections and see images of each guests work and relevant links on our blog
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1:41:24
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1:41:24
Kyra Alkamil - Emerging young artist
Kyra Alkamil is a 19 year old emerging artist from Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland, in her first year studying fine art at Elam School of Fine Art in Auckland.Kyra paints in oils and is interested in storytelling, the human figure, nostalgia, domestic scenes and surrealism.In this episode we talk about the ways Kyra discovered and developed her love of art and her skills in visual art as a homeschooled teenager, how life drawing has contributed to her figurative practice, her shift from acrylics to oils and the development of her painting practice over the last few years.Kyra gives us an insightful look into why she decided to study fine art, her first day at Elam School of Fine Art in Auckland, handling feedback and the connections she has with her lecturers and peers at Uni. We explore the challenges, frustrations and highlights of studying fine art as a 18/19 year old, the courses she has done so far and what she has loved or not loved about them and how her study has affected and influenced her art practice.See images of Kyra's work on our blogSupport the showNgā mihi, thanks for listening! Follow CREATIVE CONNECTIONS on InstagramLearn more about Creative Connections and see images of each guests work and relevant links on our blog
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1:18:11
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1:18:11
Katrina Cosgrove - Contemporary Artist
Katrina Cosgrove is a painter born in England who immigrated to NZ in 2005. She is now based in Bronte, a small settlement at the top of the South Island of Aotearoa NZ in the Tasman District, near Mapua. Katrina's nature inspired artworks delve into the themes of self discovery, transformation, freedom, and the profound connection between nature and the human spirit.With a background marked by resilience and a powerful personal journey, Katrina’s art reflects her transition from the corporate world, where she battled chronic pain caused by Fibromyalgia and stress, to a life of transformation and creative fulfilment.I loved meeting Katrina, she has a gorgeous spirit. In this episode we talk about:how she sees the world after an upbringing surrounded by the arts and creativityher love of people and her career in recruitment and the ways it has influenced her art practiceher long term dream to be a full time artist, which finally came to fruition after an actual dream which became an overnight catalyst to this career movefinding her voice and her personal style as an artistthe development of and plans for her new open working studio and gallery space in BronteKatrina shares her personal story experiencing a nervous breakdown in 2021, waking one day in extraordinary pain followed by an emergency trip to the hospital, which led to 3 1/2 years in chronic pain. Katrina believes art and nature saved her and led to her beating this condition. Her deeply personal work now reflects her journey and also encourages others to connect to their own journeys, uplifting people's lives through her floral and waterfall series.Support the showNgā mihi, thanks for listening! Follow CREATIVE CONNECTIONS on InstagramLearn more about Creative Connections and see images of each guests work and relevant links on our blog
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1:14:36
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1:14:36
Shelley Ryde - Painter, Printmaker, Writer
Shelley Ryde is a well known, highly respected Aotearoa art educator and artist living in Tāmaki Makaurau, Auckland NZ. Shelley has led the visual art department and taught art at Diocesan School for Girls in Auckland, finishing this position in 2024 after 42 years of devotion, hard work, commitment and a lot of love. Many young art students and NZ practising artists have been taught and inspired by Shelley, including a number of guests on this podcast who speak so highly of her and her influence.This is the first part of a 2 part series. In this episode we talk about Shelley's life as an artist and the connections with her important teaching career. She shares her childhood memories, her creative journey and her 50+ years as an artist. Part 2 will be released in the near future and is all about her experiences, reflections and philosophies as an art educator in Aotearoa.Shelley is a beautiful storyteller. We talk about her childhood on the west coast of the south Island and her family and how those things have influenced her as an artist and a writer. She shares her experience studying at Ilam School of Art in Christchurch in the late sixties, her relationship with her lecturer Rudi Gopas, and her peers at Ilam including Phil Clairmont, Philippa Blair, Chris Booth and Sally Burton. We discuss what Shelley gained from this course and how her work evolved and her early teaching days teaching visual art with Fred Graham. Shelley shares a pivotal opportunity when she won a scholarship to a workshop in New York in 1990 which started her love of printmaking and how that influenced her own practice and her art teaching. It is fascinating to hear about her era studying art in the sixties, her experiences, her reflections and the evolution of her work. I know you'll really enjoy this episode as much as I enjoyed speaking to Shelley. Be sure to tune in to the second chapter of this 2 part series, coming sometime soon.The link to Shelley's 146 slide presentation which we mention in our chat is available on her blogpost which is on our blog at creativeconnections.nz Here you can see examples of her work and her poems. Seeing this will enrich and really add to the conversation you're about to hear. I've included her retirement poem on there as well. Support the showNgā mihi, thanks for listening! Follow CREATIVE CONNECTIONS on InstagramLearn more about Creative Connections and see images of each guests work and relevant links on our blog
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1:56:02
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1:56:02
Kirsty Nixon - Contemporary artist
Kirsty Nixon is a contemporary New Zealand artist living in Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland. Her vibrant, light-filled paintings celebrate the untamed beauty of Aotearoa New Zealand — from the windswept beaches of the North Island to the soaring mountain ranges of the South.Drawing inspiration from the land, sea, and native birdlife that surround her, Kirsty’s work invites a quiet moment of reflection — a breath of peace amidst the noise of modern life. With an instinctive eye for colour and composition, she transforms everyday encounters with nature into uplifting works of art that feel both familiar and extraordinary.Kirsty has been a practising artist since 1997 after a career in graphic design and advertising. In this episode Kirsty talks about how working in advertising led her to having a nervous breakdown of sorts which turned out to be the catalyst for taking a break and finally choosing to become a full time artist.We talk about:how art initially provided an 'out' for her socially and continues to nourish her mental health and well beingKirsty's positive connection with NZ artist Tim Wilson and what she gained from his influenceHow her work has evolved over the years and even gone full circle in some waysHer strategies for dealing with imposter syndrome and a lack of confidence at times and getting through periods where she has felt discouraged or unmotivated.Kirsty talks us through her painting style and the different series of works she makes, from the well known NZ native flora and native bird landscape works and her 'roadie' series, to more graphic works incorporating different colour palettes and pattern. https://www.creativeconnections.nz/post/kirsty-nixon-contemporary-artistSupport the showNgā mihi, thanks for listening! Follow CREATIVE CONNECTIONS on InstagramLearn more about Creative Connections and see images of each guests work and relevant links on our blog
New Zealand