Messini Palace

Messini Palace (Ngāti Apakura) is a self taught artist who works from her Avondale art studio in Auckland.
Messini’s journey with her art is deeply intertwined with her own whakapapa and the layers of connectivity she continues to experience. After 20 years of living and traveling abroad, Messini arrived back in Aotearoa in 2017 and embarked on a journey of whakapapa discovery meeting and uniting with her Ngāti Apakura iwi and whanaunga.
Messini’s pieces represent a merging of traditional toi Māori (whakairo rakau/wood carving) with modern mediums vibrant colours.
For Messini this merging of traditional and contemporary showcases an urban angle on toi Māori, and makes her work accessible for everyone to enjoy.