Works in Show
To be Updated After the Opening Ceremony
Artist Biography
I grew up in a small town in Taranaki, New Zealand, surrounded by a family of creatives and a deep connection to the natural world. After completing my Bachelor of Fine Arts in the early 2000s, I explored a range of creative pathways while spending over a decade teaching in primary schools — a role that strengthened my love of storytelling, observation, and nurturing creativity in others. In 2019, the arrival of my first child prompted a shift in both my priorities and my practice. I wanted more time with my whānau and a deeper commitment to my art. I began taking on more commissions, and in 2022, I made the leap , resigning from teaching to focus entirely on my art business. Teaching, however, remains an important part of my creative life. I now share my knowledge through soft pastel tuition, offering online lessons and tutorials designed to help artists grow in confidence, develop strong observational skills, and understand how to build depth and realism with pastels. Drawing on my background in education, my teaching style is clear, encouraging, and grounded in practical technique.
Artist Statement
My practice is centred around soft pastel, a medium I’m drawn to for its immediacy, subtlety, and ability to capture light and atmosphere. In recent years, my work has increasingly focused on floral subjects, exploring texture, depth, and the quiet beauty found in everyday blooms. Alongside florals, I continue to create portraits that capture moments in time, works that reflect connection, memory, and the lived New Zealand experience.
Kiwi Kid by Bernadette Ballantyne
Bernadette Ballyntyne
Artist
