Chris Bailey

Chris Bailey

Chris Bailey (b.1965) lives on Waiheke Island and is of Ngāti Paoa, Ngāti Hako, Ngāti Porou, descent. In the early 2000’s he studied Māori material culture at Auckland University before becoming a full-time sculptor and carver.

Much of his work is monumental public artwork which is informed by his heritage as he works to engage the public with Māori concepts and return his peoples voice to the physical landscape. Working in bronze, stone and timber his works are held in both public and private collections throughout New Zealand and globally.

He was granted Te Ara Whakarei – lifetime Toi Iho status by Creative NZ in 2005, James Wallace Trust New Zealand Sculptor in 2014, and Creative Visionary Award / Ko te tohu whakanui mō te ringatoi by HMBA in 2025. He has exhibited in several Sculpture on the Gulf events

Born Wellington. Lives and works on Waiheke Island.

Chis Bailey (Ngati Hako, Ngati Paoa, Te Aupouri, Ngati Porou) trained at Auckland University in the traditional Māori material culture techniques of working stone, timber and flax fibre before commencing his career as a sculptor in his early 30s. Gravitating towards the harder stones of basalt and granite Bailey developed form-driven stone works in a larger scale while also developing his carving skills working in timber alongside the carvers of Piritahi Marae on Waiheke Island to help dressed the fully carved meeting house Kia Piritahi. More recently Bailey has started creating bronze sculptures.

In 2005, in recognition of the high quality of his artwork as a senior Māori sculptor Bailey was granted lifetime Toi Iho status by the New Zealand Arts Council. Bailey has exhibited extensively and completed a number of public artwork commissions both internationally and nationally with a documentary on his life and works to date completed in 2010. In 2009 he represented New Zealand at the 53rd Venice Biennale, in the NZ Room, La Maddalena church, Venice and in 2014 he was awarded on the Wallace Arts Trust New Zealand Sculptor Award at Sculpture by the Sea in Sydney.