Meet the Maker: Kiki Hall
In this interview series, we get to know the makers and artists whose beautiful work populate our gallery shop.
Ceramic Nasturtiums by Kiki Hall, available to purchase in our gallery shop.
Please introduce yourself:
My name is Kiki Hall and I am a Japanese-New Zealand multidisciplinary artist interested in highlighting the intricacies of often overlooked moments. My practice draws upon observations from my daily surroundings and I predominantly work with painting, ceramics, and glass. Focusing on natural occurrences and the details of our world, I interlink my cultural background with my fascination for the complexity and beauty of nature.
What has been your journey as an artist?
I’ve been making art for as long as I can remember—holding a paintbrush as soon as I could wrap my hand around one. Growing up with creative parents, my life has always been full of art, through music, nature, painting, food, and pottery.
They always encouraged me to continue painting and drawing, so much so that they often had to reuse canvas' which got caked in layers and layers of thick white paint. In high school I painted realism and I practiced drawing everyday.
Then got into Elam School of Fine Arts and got my bachelor’s. I love learning new skills and exploring different mediums, and while I still try (and fail) often, those moments of trial are part of how I grow. With the guidance of my wonderful mentors, my practice continues to evolve.
Can you tell us about the pieces you have in the gallery shop? How would you like them to make people feel?
The pieces in the gallery shop are my Nasturtiums from my exhibition 小さな命が囁いている (Whispers). They hold deep significance for me, marking not only my first solo exhibition but also my largest sculptural work to date.
This series draws on the pull of nostalgia I feel for nasturtiums, which appear in both New Zealand landscapes and Japanese culture.
By pressing them into porcelain clay and embracing natural imperfections, I sought to preserve their delicate essence—inviting viewers to pause and notice the quiet intricacies of nature in their own surroundings.
What inspires you?
Nature is my greatest inspiration. Being surrounded by the Waitakere Ranges growing up I found so much beauty in the rich forest. From a young age, I loved noticing the small, often-overlooked details—tiny creatures, hidden plants, fleeting moments.
I spent a lot of time going on walks, feeling the wet moss, observing bark patterns, and gazing above at the canopy. I will always treasure those times, and whenever I can, I love returning to the West Coast.
Much of my recent work is about preserving those memories—capturing the peace, tranquility, and nostalgia of those experiences through physical mediums. Particularly, using the act of walking to both ignite my imagination and harvest pieces to capture through glass, ceramics or painting.
Visit our Gallery Shop to see Kiki’s beautiful work alongside other that of other local artists and makers.
Ceramic Nasturtiums by Kiki Hall, available to purchase in our gallery shop.
Artist, Kiki Hall