Fatu Feu'u

ONZM

Fatu Feu’u is an internationally recognised Samoan–New Zealand artist who has played a pivotal role in shaping global interest in contemporary Pacific art. His influence extends beyond his own work, as he has mentored and nurtured a generation of Pacific artists in New Zealand. This contribution has earned him the reputation as the “Father of Contemporary Pacific Art.”

Born and raised in the village of Poutasi in the district of Falealili on the island of Upolu, Samoa, Feu’u emigrated to New Zealand in 1966 with the specific intention of studying art. Since 1983, he has exhibited regularly both nationally and internationally, establishing a strong presence in the contemporary art scene.

Feu’u’s recent accolades reflect his outstanding contributions to the arts and his leadership within the Pacific arts community. In March 2023, he received the Distinguished Alumni Award from the University of Auckland. In 2022, he was honoured with the ICON Award by the New Zealand Arts Foundation Te Tumu Toi, as well as the Senior Pacific Artist Award by Creative New Zealand.

His works are held in numerous prominent public collections, including the Queensland Art Gallery and Gallery of Modern Art in Brisbane, the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa in Wellington, Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki, Waikato Museum Te Whare Taonga o Waikato, and Christchurch Art Gallery Te Puna o Waiwhetū. Additional collections include the University of Canterbury, the University of Auckland, Auckland Council, the Fletcher Trust, the Chartwell Trust, and the Arts House Trust in Auckland.

Since becoming a full-time artist in 1988, Feu’u has created a diverse body of work encompassing paintings, prints, bronzes, wooden sculptures, and ceramics. These works are now held in public and private collections around the world. He was the first artist of Pacific heritage to be awarded the James Wallace Art Award in 1995 and received the New Zealand Order of Merit in 2001 for his achievements in art.

Feu’u’s art draws on Pacific motifs, particularly from his Samoan heritage, which he reinterprets through a modernist lens. His admiration for Picasso and early 20th-century modernists is clearly reflected in his distinctive style, helping to establish him as one of New Zealand’s leading Pacific artists.