Mandy Cherry Joass

Mandy Joass is a Whangārei-born, Christchurch-based sculptor of Ngāpuhi, Ngāi Takoto, and Te Pātū descent. Their practice is deeply rooted in the exploration and reclamation of Māori culture, knowledge, and identity. Blending traditional Māori art forms such as raranga (weaving) and kowhaiwhai (painting) with contemporary media, they work primarily with found, natural, and recycled materials—most notably aluminum Venetian blinds, which serve as an industrial placeholder for harakeke (flax). This use of materials reflects the concept of whakapapa, the layering of genealogy, and mirrors the act of weaving: the bringing together of many individual elements to create something stronger and richer than the sum of its parts.

Since graduating with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Sculpture from Ilam School of Fine Arts in 2015, Joass has exhibited in over 30 shows, including New Zealand Sculpture on Shore (2016/2018) and Waiheke Sculpture on the Gulf(2019). Their practice has evolved significantly through a personal journey of reconnection with whakapapa. Raised without access to their cultural heritage, the process of reclamation has become a central force in both their life and artistic practice