Vendela Elliott

Ko Putauaki te maunga

Ko Tarawera te awa

Ko Mataatua te waka

Ko Ngati Awa, Tuwharetoa, Te Arawa te iwi

Nō Rotorua ahau

Ko Vendela Elliott tōku ingoa

Emerging from Rotorua, a place I whakapapa back to, a place I call home. I am an award winning contemporary Māori artist redefining the relationship between art, culture, fashion and interior design. Working across functional art forms including, fashion, bespoke lamps, and wall-based art, I like to believe my practice sits at the intersection of cultural preservation and contemporary design innovation. My work draws from the visual language of Māori patterns, symbolism, and ancestral knowledge, reinterpreting them through a modern lens for people that seek connection, identity, and story.

My creations are inspired by my passion of Māori culture and the enduring strength of whakapapa (genealogy), I approach each piece as more than décor—it is an extension of me and my culture. Through pattern, texture, and form, my designs create spaces that feel grounded, intentional, and connected to Te Āo Māori.