Mike Crawford
b. 19
Resides Ōtepoti Dunedin
Primarily working in cast glass, Ōtepoti Dunedin-based artist Mike Crawford (Ngāti Raukawa) developed his glass practice in the years following his completion of a Bachelor of Design majoring in sculpture, from Unitec School of Design in Auckland, in 2001. From 2002, Mike was introduced to cast glass through working in the studio of Aotearoa's leading glass artist, Ann Robinson, and is one of a number of skilled contemporary glass artists to have emerged through her studio.
Since 2010 Mike's own practice has evolved, shaped around a sculptural exploration of different histories of making and storytelling that reflect his personal experience, research and whakapapa. A central concern of his recent work has focused on manu, or birds; their formal and sculptural potential and the stories they carry. ‘Mātātā (Tini Heke) is one such work which draws inspiration from our native fernbird, or Mātātā, one of only three types of land-based birds on the isolated Subantarctic Islands that make up Tini Heke, Snares Islands. On a trip there with Heritage Expeditions in 2021, I was lucky enough to spot one of these birds on a rocky outcrop. Such a tiny bird in such a rugged environment. You cannot help but be amazed at their resilience. Mātātā (Tini Heke) also draws inspiration from Don Binney's Summer Fernbird painted series and has spawned a sculptural series of striped/pleated works of mine created over the last few years.’
Mike is represented by Milford Galleries in Ōtepoti Dunedin and Masterworks in Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland. He exhibits regularly throughout Aotearoa and has work in public collections including the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa; Auckland Museum Tāmaki Paenga Hira; Waikato Museum of Art and History Te Whare Taonga o Waikato; the Dowse Art Museum; and Queensland Art Gallery | Gallery of Modern Art (QAGOMA).