Charles Williams (Ngāti Kahungūnu, Ngāi Tūhoe, Whakatōhea, Ngāpuhi)

 

Founding member of the world championship winning TMD crew (The Most Dedicated), a collective of creatives from around the world) who continue to push artistic boundaries & who have been global leaders in the urban contemporary art field for the past 25+ years.  A passion for endemic/native birdlife Charles' work focusses on the connection of culture & the natural world with a strong focus on Māori/indigenous narratives & themes.  His global influence within the street art/urban art scene has lead to numerous personal & group achievements. He is the first & only Māori urban artist to have won graffiti art competitions both as an individual artist & crew member here in Aotearoa & around the world including: 

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• Write4Gold world graffiti art championship crew titles (TMD Crew) Aotearoa, Germany 2004, Germany 2006

• World Individual graffiti art title winner Papeete,Tahiti (Ono'u Festival Tahiti), 2016

• Ironlak Team member of the Guinness Book of Records title for the worlds longest graffiti scroll, Dubai 2016

• Guest judge world graffiti art competition Papeete, Tahiti (Ono'u Festival Tahiti) 2017

• Winner of the Fasm Creative Battle mural competition Modesto, California 2018

• Sponsored artist & signature spray can design for Ironlak spray paint

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Janine Williams (Ngāti Paoa, Ngāti Whātua ki Kaipara, Ngāti Māhuta) 

 

One of Aotearoas first wahine Māori urban artists she has been a member of the world acclaimed collective 'TMD Crew' since 1998.  An exhibiting contemporary artist of the 2022 Sculpture on the Gulf Biennial (Waiheke Island) her work has featured in a wide range of exhibitions & shows throughout Aotearoa & the world.  Janines' work as a mana whenua endorsed artist for her Tāmaki Makaurau based Iwi she works alongside major property developers, Eke Panuku, government agencies & Iwi as both the artist & as a creative consultant. Her passion lies in creating work that reflects local cultural & historical narrative & stories that have a direct connection to the whenua in which the artwork remains while pushing traditional practices into contemporary & urban settings.  With a range of projects currently under way at different stages of development, some previous permanent works include:

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• AUT North Campus - Principle Creative Iwi Lead and Narrative Design

• GridAKL building - external glass canopy designs, timber soffit ceiling designs & inlays, lintel & gobo lighting custom designs

• 132 Halsey Street - sculptural ceiling work 'Taunekeneke' (interaction/relationhip) & bronze cast inlays 

• 10 Madden Street, Wynyard Quarter - external concrete panel design 'Rātā

• Freida Barnes Plaza - custom concrete plinth seating designs

• Te Tauoma development Glen Innes - building facade concrete panel design

• BHive building (Smales Farm) meeting pod designs & commission vinyl artwork

• Watercare pumpstation commission - Amee Daldy Park, Wynyard Quarter, project management & artwork painting alongside husband Charles

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Exhibitions include:

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Landmarks for the Landless - Whakatane Gallery 27 April - 15 June, 2024

Landmarks for the Landless - Corban Arts Estate 23 Dec 23 - Feb 24

Muru - Papakura Art Gallery (alongside Tā Haare Williams, Nigel Borell (ONZM) 17-29 June, 2023)

Here & Out Exhibition - Toi Poneke, Mar 2022

Waiheke Sculpture on the Gulf - 2022

SOTG Small Works Showcase - Waiheke Community Art Gallery, Feb-Mar 2022

Life After Death (with Benjamin Work) - Franklin Art Gallery 2021

The Most Dedicated: An Aotearoa Graffiti Story - The Dowse Art Museum 2021

Te Matahi O Te Tau (with Tā Haare Williams) - Papakura Art Gallery 2019

Bird Song, Graffiti Museum -Installation Ono'u Festival - Papeete, Tahiti 2018

Huia Come Home - Fresh Gallery Ōtara 2017

Gax - FestPac Guam 2016

Taku Tāmaki, Auckland Stories South - Auckland Museum commission & exhibit MIT Mānukau 2016

Chairs - Artweek - Remuera Art Gallery 2015

Primary Flight - Outdoor Street Art Exhibition Art Basel, Miami 2010
The Miami Dream - TMD Group Exhibition - Shed 10, Auckland 2010

Best Kept Story - Disrupt Gallery 2005

Fresh, Fresh, Fresh - Mike Weston Gallery 1999​

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Along with a large range of smaller community exhibitions & events together Charles & Janine have exhibited in galleries, have been involved in numerous art group shows, street art festivals & produced large scale mural commissions around the world.

 

Countries include:
 

Australia (Sydney, Brisbane, Gold Coast, Mooree, Melbourne, Adelaide, Port Adelaide), China, Dubai, French Polynesia (Tahiti, Moorea, Bora Bora, Ra'iātea), France (Paris, Lens), United States of America (Miami, Los Angeles, New York), Pacific Islands (Samoa, Rarotonga, Tonga), Guāhān (Guam), Hong Kong, Switzerland, Germany & extensively throughout Aotearoa.

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