Leanne Culy

Leanne Culy is a talented artist and ceramicist based in the Hawkes Bay.
Gallery De Novo is thrilled to once again have a limited selection of Leanne’s painted oars in digital form. Each piece has been photographed and produced in a large, life size format - signed and editioned by the artist.
"My oars are a lot like a totem, they often tell this woven tale using carefully chosen design elements colours and icons. I like to tell stories or jog memories about our history”
The idea of painting on the oars first came about when she was living in Kerikeri in the Tokelau, Bay of Islands.
“That beautiful part of the country inspired me to tell cultural and environmental stories. My paintings were not intended as a form of appropriation but as a way of showing my love of cultural unity and of working together. I began to combine poetry and painting on pieces of wood, then I happened to find a wooden rowing oar that turned out to be the perfect symbol to paint and tell stories on".
NOTE: We only have one of each edition shown currently available.