Tim Melville is proud to present a survey exhibition of work by Tawhai Rickard (Ngāti Uepohatu, Ngāti Porou).
The paintings and sculptures in TAWHAI RICKARD 2020-2025 (Retro Man) reveal the artist’s trademark mix of Victorian baroque and Māori ‘Pop Art’ aesthetics, and a drawing style inspired by the figurative paintings in his whare tipuna (ancestral meeting house) ‘Hinetapora’ at Ruatoria.
Rickard works predominately with acrylic paints and whakairo (carving) using reclaimed wood and repurposed domestic furniture. His work is influenced by the epic history of Aotearoa New Zealand and by social, historical and cultural relationships between Māori and Pākēha.
By presenting provocative imagery from contemporary culture in the forms of playing-cards and action-figures, Rickard prompts us to consider the ongoing impacts of colonisation, while challenging us to engage in discussion on the bicultural foundations of Aotearoa New Zealand.
Tawhai Rickard was the winner of the 2023 National Contemporary Art Award.
Photography: Kallan MacLeod
Tawhai Rickard
Winston Peters, King of Immigrant Hearts
2025
acrylic on shaped wooden panel
390mm H x 270mm W
PRIVATE COLLECTION
Tawhai Rickard
Te Kooti, King of Spiritual Diamonds
2025
acrylic on shaped wooden panel
390mm H x 270mm W
TR-2025-09
Tawhai Rickard
Pohara, King of Poverty Bay
2025
acrylic on shaped wooden panel
390mm H x 270mm W
PRIVATE COLLECTION
Tawhai Rickard
2020-2025 (Retro Man)
2025
Installation view
Tawhai Rickard
Shane Jones, Jack of New Zealand Resources
2025
acrylic on shaped wooden panel
390mm H x 270mm W
TR-2025-11
Tawhai Rickard
2020-2025 (Retro Man)
2025
Installation view
Tawhai Rickard
John Key, Rich Joker
2025
acrylic on shaped wooden panel
390mm H x 270mm W
PRIVATE COLLECTION
Tawhai Rickard
2020-2025 (Retro Man)
2025
Installation view
Tawhai Rickard
Dr Hū - The Rise and Fall of Kawanatanga
2023
Reclaimed wood, found frame, enamel & acrylic paint
380mm H x 250mm W x 70mm D
PRIVATE COLLECTION
Tawhai Rickard
Kaikatakata (Comedian)
2025
acrylic & shellac on reclaimed oak
755mm H x 585mm W x 55mm D
PRIVATE COLLECTION
Tawhai Rickard
Kaikatakata (Comedian)(detail)
2025
acrylic & shellac on reclaimed oak
755mm H x 585mm W x 55mm D
PRIVATE COLLECTION
Tawhai Rickard
Heke Pokai, Jack of Spades and Chainsaws
2025
acrylic on shaped wooden panel
390mm H x 270mm W
PRIVATE COLLECTION
Tawhai Rickard
Te Kooti, Jack of Holy Diamonds
2025
acrylic on shaped wooden panel
390mm H x 270mm W
COLLECTION CHRISTCHURCH ART GALLERY TE PUNA O WAIWHETŪ
Tawhai Rickard
2020-2025 (Retro Man)
2025
Installation view
Tawhai Rickard
Rua Kenana, Jack of Edwardian Nightclubs
2025
acrylic on shaped wooden panel
390mm H x 270mm W
COLLECTION CHRISTCHURCH ART GALLERY TE PUNA O WAIWHETŪ
Tawhai Rickard
2020-2025 (Retro Man)
2025
Installation view
Tawhai Rickard
Tame Iti, Jack of Bleeding Hearts
2025
acrylic on shaped wooden panel
390mm H x 270mm W
PRIVATE COLLECTION
Tawhai Rickard
Queen Elizabeth, Queen of Merry Hearts
2025
acrylic on shaped wooden panel
390mm H x 270mm W
PRIVATE COLLECTION
Tawhai Rickard
2020-2025 (Retro Man)
2025
Installation view
Tawhai Rickard
2020-2025 (Retro Man)
2025
Installation view
Tawhai Rickard
2020-2025 (Retro Man)
2025
Installation view
Tawhai Rickard
2020-2025 (Retro Man)
2025
Installation view
Tawhai Rickard
Victorian Cast-Iron Waka of Inevitable Kiboshery
2024
oil on carved wood with repurposed domestic furniture
1050mm H x 1000mm W x 600mm D
TR-2024-06
Tawhai Rickard
Victorian Cast-Iron Waka of Inevitable Kiboshery (detail)
2024
oil on carved wood with repurposed domestic furniture
1050mm H x 1000mm W x 600mm D
TR-2024-06
Tawhai Rickard
Victorian Cast-Iron Waka of Inevitable Kiboshery (detail)
2024
oil on carved wood with repurposed domestic furniture
1050mm H x 1000mm W x 600mm D
TR-2024-06
Tawhai Rickard
Victorian Cast-Iron Waka of Inevitable Kiboshery (detail)
2024
oil on carved wood with repurposed domestic furniture
1050mm H x 1000mm W x 600mm D
TR-2024-06
Tawhai Rickard
Victorian Cast-Iron Waka of Inevitable Kiboshery (detail)
2024
oil on carved wood with repurposed domestic furniture
1050mm H x 1000mm W x 600mm D
TR-2024-06
Tawhai Rickard
Scenes from a Victorian Restaurant
2023
reclaimed wooden chair backs, table, chairs, enamel & acrylic paint
Installation dimensions variable
Tawhai Rickard
Scenes from a Victorian Restaurant (detail)
2023
reclaimed wooden chair backs, table, chairs, enamel & acrylic paint
Installation dimensions variable
Tawhai Rickard
Scenes from a Victorian Restaurant (detail)
2023
reclaimed wooden chair backs, table, chairs, enamel & acrylic paint
Installation dimensions variable
Tawhai Rickard
Scenes from a Victorian Restaurant (detail)
2023
reclaimed wooden chair backs, table, chairs, enamel & acrylic paint
Installation dimensions variable
Tawhai Rickard
2020-2025 (Retro Man)
2025
Installation view
Tawhai Rickard
Lord Grey's Tea Factory circa 1851
2019
reclaimed wood, action figures, silver teapot, brass fretwork & mechanisms, cord, enamel & acrylic paint, shellac
700mm H x 400mm Dia
TR-2019-01
Tawhai Rickard
Lord Grey's Tea Factory circa 1851 (detail)
2019
reclaimed wood, action figures, silver teapot, brass fretwork & mechanisms, cord, enamel & acrylic paint, shellac
700mm H x 400mm Dia
TR-2019-01
Tawhai Rickard
Lord Grey's Tea Factory circa 1851 (detail)
2019
reclaimed wood, action figures, silver teapot, brass fretwork & mechanisms, cord, enamel & acrylic paint, shellac
700mm H x 400mm Dia
TR-2019-01
Tawhai Rickard
Lord Grey's Tea Factory circa 1851 (detail)
2019
reclaimed wood, action figures, silver teapot, brass fretwork & mechanisms, cord, enamel & acrylic paint, shellac
700mm H x 400mm Dia
TR-2019-01
Tawhai Rickard
Lord Grey's Tea Factory circa 1851 (detail)
2019
reclaimed wood, action figures, silver teapot, brass fretwork & mechanisms, cord, enamel & acrylic paint, shellac
700mm H x 400mm Dia
TR-2019-01
Tawhai Rickard
2020-2025 (Retro Man)
2025
Installation view
Tawhai Rickard
Pipiwharauroa, a Wonder of the World
2022
repurposed clock case, action figure, wood, miniature frame, flag, moa, fabric, cardboard, enamel & acrylic paint, shellac
650mm H x 250mm W x 130mm D
Tawhai Rickard
Pipiwharauroa, a Wonder of the World (detail)
2022
repurposed clock case, action figure, wood, miniature frame, flag, moa, fabric, cardboard, enamel & acrylic paint, shellac
650mm H x 250mm W x 130mm D
Tawhai Rickard
Te Kuri the Saint
2020
repurposed clock case, action figure, wood, cardboard, copper, fabric, miniature vintage car, clock, bell, crucifix, enamel & acrylic paint
740mm H x 350mm W x 130mm D
Tawhai Rickard
Te Kuri the Statesman
2020
repurposed clock case, action figure, wood, miniature frame, vintage car, fabric, cardboard, enamel & acrylic paint
580mm H x 300mm W x 130mm D
Tawhai Rickard
Te Waka o Pipiwharauroa
2020
antique wood-planer, found embellishments, action figure, enamel & acrylic paint, shellac
130mm H x 380mm W x 70mm D
TR-2020-04
Tawhai Rickard
Te Waka o Pipiwharauroa (detail)
2020
antique wood-planer, found embellishments, action figure, enamel & acrylic paint, shellac
130mm H x 380mm W x 70mm D
TR-2020-04
Tawhai Rickard
Te Whareherehere o Te Kuri
2020
reclaimed wood, action figure, metal fretwork, bakelite, enamel & acrylic paint, shellac
370mm H x 1200mm W x 70mm D
PRIVATE COLLECTION
Tawhai Rickard
Te Whareherehere o Te Kuri (detail)
2020
reclaimed wood, action figure, metal fretwork, bakelite, enamel & acrylic paint, shellac
370mm H x 1200mm W x 70mm D
PRIVATE COLLECTION
Tawhai Rickard
Te Whareherehere o Te Kuri (detail)
2020
reclaimed wood, action figure, metal fretwork, bakelite, enamel & acrylic paint, shellac
370mm H x 1200mm W x 70mm D
PRIVATE COLLECTION
Tawhai Rickard
Te Whareherehere o Te Kuri (detail)
2020
reclaimed wood, action figure, metal fretwork, bakelite, enamel & acrylic paint, shellac
370mm H x 1200mm W x 70mm D
PRIVATE COLLECTION
Tawhai Rickard
2020-2025 (Retro Man)
2025
Installation view
Tawhai Rickard
Golden Dalek (Dr Hū)
2023
recaliemd wood, brass frames, enamel & acrylic paint
630mm H x 250mm W x 300mm D