Mar 10, 20212 min read

Creative Matters: Episode 1 with Tanya Blong

Updated: Jul 18, 2021

Born in Australia and raised on the shores of Taranaki, New Zealand artist Tanya Blong is a full time artist and a mother of one, now living at Muriwai Beach, North West of Auckland NZ.

Extensive overseas travel has enriched and informed the direction of Tanya's work. She graduated in 2006 with a major in sculpture and painting from Hungry Creek Art and Craft School in New Zealand.

Sculpture was the basis of her work for several years, working predominantly in wood, the figurative forms related to navigation and ocean faring cultures. Also spending several years as studio technician to renown New Zealand sculptor Terry Stringer.

Tanya shares many insightful thoughts and ideas and I'm quite sure you will find something in her story to inspire and inform your creative journey or your life in general. She discusses her childhood, her private inner world, her travel, her art studies, her sculpture and painting, her process and her art practice.

And she even has a big secret to share with us!

You can click on the link below to listen or subscribe and listen to CREATIVE MATTERS on your favourite podcast platform to receive our weekly episodes with other NZ artists.

Sculpture formed the basis of Tanya’s work for several years, working predominantly in wood. The figurative forms related to navigation and ocean faring cultures.

These days painting forms the direction of her work with series like The Bathers, Be Still Life and the Architectural paintings.

The Bathers Collection

Be Still Life Collection

Celebrating the history of Still Lifes and the mementos we choose to keep in our lives, along with the act of slowing life down and appreciating the small moments.

"It's such an absolute privilege to be able to see the world in this way, in turn I hope I can relay the insights to the viewer, who then forever looks at a subject with new light."