PROFILE

                      

 

Sheyne's art practice has evolved over the course of his 27-year career as a visual artist, and his mixed heritage of Samoan and Scandinavian/Celt ancestry has played a significant role in his work. He attended art school at the Auckland Society of Arts from 1992 to 1995, majoring in printmaking and experimenting with various disciplines before settling on relief woodblock as a medium that suited his dynamic style.

One of Sheyne's notable exhibitions was the group exhibition "Bottled Ocean" in 1995, curated by Jim Vivieaere and showcasing contemporary Pacific art at the Auckland City Art Gallery. Sheyne's vision of futuristic Pacific architecture began to take shape after he obtained a Master's degree in relief printmaking from Auckland University at the turn of the millennium. He saw himself as a paper architect creating futuristic structures that gave identity to himself and the urbanization of the Pacific.

Sheyne was inspired by architectural landmarks such as the Gaudi monuments in Barcelona and Gothic Baroque of Prague, which helped him to blend the high rise/high-density housing of Auckland with the shape of the Samoan fale. He used the term "paper architecture" synonymously with his printmaking, as it was a blueprint for what he wanted to see. The concept of high-rise Pacific structures took on more meaning for Sheyne after he learned about rising sea levels in Kiribati and Tuvalu, and he began to incorporate environmental issues into his work, focusing on endangered species such as the Yellow-eyed penguin.

Sheyne's recent subject matter has been exploring popular science for a spiritual narrative. In 2019, he was an artist in residence at the Carter Observatory where he created a body of work responding to the 50th anniversary of the Apollo 11 Moon landing. His work highlighted how science and engineering brought the world together, if only briefly, during a time when it was falling apart due to war and corruption.

During his research into astronomy, Sheyne had an epiphany about our place in the cosmos, which made him more aware of the fragility of the Earth's atmosphere and the need to educate children about science at an earlier age. This new understanding and perspective have influenced his recent art making, incorporating scientific themes and spiritual narratives.

Overall, Sheyne's work demonstrates a multidisciplinary approach to art making, utilizing various mediums to explore his mixed heritage, futuristic Pacific architecture, environmental issues, and popular science.

 

Sheyne’s solo exhibitions include Ghost in the Machine, City Gallery Wellington, 2013; USO and the Dragon Slayer, Solander Gallery, Wellington, 2013; The Ancient Mariners, Papakura Art Gallery, Papakura, Auckland, 2011. Select group exhibitions include Freak of nature, Switchback Gallery, Monash University, Victoria, 2011; Out of the Box, Tweed River Art Gallery, Murwillumbah, New South Wales, 2011; Pasifika Styles, Camdridge University Museum, U.K, 2006; and Re-Interpreting the Middle East, and exhibition that toured Palestine, Jordan, Indianapolis, Washington DC, Boise State and Michigan, 2005-2006.

(intro gathered from tautai website)

Academic History

2000         M.F.A (hons) Elam School of Fine Art, University of Auckland,
1995         B.V.A Auckland University of Technology, Auckland,  

Solo Exhibition History

2022         ZooPlankton Waiheke Art Gallery, Auckland
2019         Lunar Module, Carter Observatory, Wellington
2014         Siapo Satellite, Massey University, Wellington
2013         Ghost in the Machine, Deane Gallery, Wellington City Gallery
                 USO and the Dragon Slayer, Solander Gallery, Wellington 

2011         The Ancent Mariners, Papkura Art Gallery, Papakura, Auckland
2010         The Garden of Earthly Delights, Waiheke Art gallery, Auckland.
2008         Sonar Interferance, Salamander Gallery, Christchurch
2006         Misplaced Effigies, Flagstaff Gallery, Devonport
                 Marziart Internationale Galerie. Hamburg, Germany
                 Penguins and Buicks, Salamander Gallery, Christchurch
2005         The Gondwana Waka, Lane Gallery,Auckland
2005         The Gondwana Waka, Catchment Gallery, Nelson,
2003         Sifi Taavale Fale, Lane Gallery, Auckland,
2002         Salamander Gallery, Christchurch,
2001         Car Paopao. The Lane Gallery, Auckland,
2000         Expressway to Taou, St Agathas Gallery, Mt Eden
1999         Solo99, Camera Lucida Gallery, Oaxaca, Mexico
                 Porto-Indo, The Ilsington Gallery, London, United Kingdom
1998         Atlantic/Pacific, The Ericeira Gallery, Lisbon, Portugal
1997         Monument to Motion, Archill Gallery, Auckland,
1996         Cacophony, The Lane Gallery, Auckland,

Selected Group Exhibitions

 

2022        Trouble in Paradise:, National Library, Wgton    
2022        T.O.P II, Arthaus Contemporary, Auckland                    
2022        T.O.P III, Thompson Rivers University Gallery,                                                                                                              Kamloops, Canada.
2020        Whenua Ūkaipō Connectedness Exhibition, Wellington

2016        Ink masters Exhibition , Cairns, Australia
2015        Line Out, Northern Print Studio, Newcastle, U.K
                Wansolwara, Franklin Arts Centre, Pukekoe
2014        BINDING & LOOPING :  University of Hawai'i, Manoa
2011        Freak of nature, Monash University,  Victoria                         
                Out of the Box, Tweed River Art Gallery, Murwillumbah, N.S.W
2009        Another New Zealand, Another U.S,A COCA, Christchurch
2006        Pasifika Styles, Camdridge University Museum, U.K
                Re-Interpreting the Middle East , Khalil Sakikini Center, Ramallah,       
                Re-Interpreting the Middle East , University of Indianapolis
                Re-Interpreting the Middle East ,Bethlehem, Palestine
                Mainly Contemporary, Williams Gallery, Wellington
                The Paltel Virtual Gallery at Birzeit University, Palestine
2005        Homelands, Cybertribe online Exhibition, Newcastle, Australia
                Lima-Pacific Arts, (5th Pacific Festival of CHCH), Christchurch
                Face Value: Ivan Dougherty Gallery, Sydney, Australia
                Face Value, Museum of Brisbane, Australia
                Re-Interpreting the Middle East, SGC Conference, Washington 
                Re-Interpreting the Middle East, Orfali Art Gallery, Jordan
                Re-Interpreting - Sisson Gallery, Dearborn, Michigan
                Re-interpreting - Gallery 2, Boise State University,
2004        Printmakers, Catchment Gallery, Nelson,
                Wallace Award Finalist Exhibition, Wallace gallery, Auckland
                Sumei National Print Exhibit, Newark, N.J, U.S.A
2003        Sydney Art on Paper Fair 2003, Sydney, Australia
                20/20, City Art Gallery, Christchurch,
2002        Start Up, Te Papa Museum, Wellington,
                Pacifika Ways of Knowing Conference, Columbia University, New York
1999        Brothers, Gallery 482, Brisbane, Australia
1996        Bottled Ocean, Auckland City Art Gallery, Auckland
 
Achievements, Residencies and Awards


2022.        Relief Online Exhibition, Megalo Print Studio Canberra 
2020.        Print Edition for the Print Council of Australia

2020         Finalist -Hida Takayama International Contemporary Woodblock-                                                                          Prints Triennale, Japan

2019         Residence Carter Observatory, Space Place, Wellington                     

2016         Finalist, Ink masters Print Contest -Cairns, Australia
2015         Finalist New Zealand Painting and Printmaking Award, Hamilton
                 Finalist for The Parkin Drawing Prize , Wellington
2014         City Council Commission, “ Barracks Mural”, Mt Cook ,

                 CoCo Pacifika Arist in Residence 2014  Massey University, 

2013         Grey Lynn Community Centre Commission, Mural , Auckland
                 Finalist New Zealand Painting and Printmaking Award, Hamilton

2007 -11  Gallery Director, LeSA Gallery, Wellington

2006        Macmillan Brown Centre, Artist in Residence, Canterbury University
                Artist in residence   Samuel Masden College        
                Artist in residence   Howick College, Auckland     
                Artist in residence   Dilworth College, Auckland   
2005        Creative New Zealand Grant- Workshop in San Francisco, USA
                Artbeatz Activate Award, Auckland
2004        Finalist –James Wallace Awards, Auckland
                Finalist - Sumei National Print Awards, Newark, N.J, USA
2003        Wesley Community Centre Commission, Auckland
2002        Martin Hughes Contemporary Pacific Art Award
2001        Resident Artist for Pacific Pathways, Auckland Museum

 

Collections

Corcoran School of Art, Washington, DC
Henry Ford Community College, Dearborn, Michigan
The International Center of Bethlehem, Bethlehem
Manunkau City Council, Auckland
Macmillan Brown collection, Christchurch
Wallace Arts Trust Collection, Auckland
Lincoln University Library , Canterbury 
Wellington City Council, Wellington
NZ Diplomatic Residence.Rarotonga
NZ Diplomatic Residence, Apia Samoa
NZ Diplomatic Residence, Addis ababa Ethopia
NZ Diplomatic Residence, Bangkok,Thailand
NZ Diplomatic Residence ,Brasilla, Brasil
NZ Diplomatic Residence. Guangzhou, China
NZ Diplomatic Residence. Honolulu, USA
NZ Diplomatic Residence., Jakarta, Indonesia
NZ Diplomatic Residence
.Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
NZ Diplomatic Residence.,Moscow, Russia
NZ Diplomatic Residence New Delhi, India
NZ Diplomatic Residence Port Vila, Vanuatu

Publications

Pasifika Styles: Artists Inside the Museum -Raymond, Rosanna and Salmond, Amiria, 2008

The Frangipani is Dead: Contemporary Pacific Art in New Zealand-  Dr Karen Stevenson, 2008

Taeao tou i mea sina : the first Pacific Festival Contemporary Arts Exhibition,  1996

 

Articles/ Links

Stuff Article /Dominion Post 2022

Stuff Article/ Dominion post  2022

Wairarapa Times 2020

Australian Print Council 2020

Wellington City Council 2020

Enviroschools 2017

Dominion post 2013

Wellington City Gallery 2013

Eastern Courier  2009

Art Monthly Australia 2008

New Zealand Herald   2006

New Zealand Herald   2002

New Zealand Herald   2002