Kia ora,

My name is Sean Murray. I have five children and ten mokopuna (so far) aged from 17 years down to 2 years old. I have lived in Maketū for the past 20 years but was raised in Tokoroa. I whakapapa to Ngāti Ruanui but I also have Italian and Welsh heritage.

I love to create art works. As a child I was drawn to the works of Michelangelo and Leonardo and their beautiful studies of the human body, use of colour and the way they conveyed movement. I was amazed by sculpture. I also love graphic novel art and the artwork of Frank Frazetta. When I am creating artwork, I sometimes feel as though someone else has taken over my hand and is creating through me. It doesn’t happen all the time but when it does I welcome it.

My main mediums have been chalk pastel, graphic pen and I am currently exploring watercolour. I also do Tā moko and bone carving. I like to tell stories through my artwork and Tā moko is perfect for this, as I get to help someone tell their story through beautiful Māori patterns and designs and have them wear it with pride. Each Tā moko is unique to the wearer as each person has a unique story. Sometimes they choose not to wear their Tā moko but to have it as a framed art piece.

What would you want your story to say?