15 November 2025–10 May 2026

Land of My Ancestors Darcy Nicholas

This exhibition is a deeply personal retrospective that honours the artist’s whakapapa (heritage, family line), life journey and enduring legacy in Māori art. Presented for the first time in Tauranga Moana, this major exhibition draws together a curated selection of drawings, paintings, jewellery, and carvings spanning nearly six decades of practice. It is both a homecoming and a tribute to the ancestors, landscapes and stories that have shaped his world.

Through his paternal line, Darcy Nicholas traces his whakapapa to Tauranga Moana, and this exhibition returns him to the whenua of his father, to stand once again among his people. Land of My Ancestors is an act of aroha and creative generosity, inviting you to witness the legacy of one of Aotearoa’s most visionary Māori artists, art leaders and advocates.

Curated by Shirley-Marie Whata-Coffin (Te Arawa, Ngāti Pikiao, Raukawa, Ngāti Ahuru)

Land of My Ancestors Wall Text Audio English

Land of My Ancestors Wall Text Audio Te Reo Māori

Artist Bios

Darcy Nicholas Ngāti Ranginui, Ngāi Te Rangi, Kāhui Maunga, Te Āti Awa, Ngāti Ruanui, Ngāti Hauā

Darcy Nicholas, born in Waitara, Taranaki, has been a leading figure in the contemporary Māori art movement since the late 1960s. An acclaimed painter, sculptor and curator, his work has been exhibited internationally and is held in collections across New Zealand, Europe, North America and Africa.

Nicholas was awarded a Fulbright Cultural Award in 1984, leading to deep engagement with Native American and African American cultures. He has curated major international exhibitions, including Māori Art Meets America (2005) and the Māori Art Market series. He played a pivotal role in founding Pātaka Art + Museum and was made a Companion of the Queen’s Service Order in 2010 for his services to museums.

Among many honours, he received the Te Waka Toi Exemplary Award in 2013 and the Ngā Tohu Toi Icon Award in 2023 for lifetime achievement in Māori art. His work and life are also featured in the documentary and book Land of My Ancestors.