Lonnie Hutchinson (Ngāti kuri ki Ngāi Tahu, Samoan, Celtic) is a leading multi-disciplinary artist whose work is held in both private and public collections around Aotearoa and internationally. Her practice comments astutely on aspects of indigeneity in the contemporary world.
Hutchinson’s signature cut-out work extends across a range of materials, including black builder’s paper, vintage wallpapers, acrylic, steel and aluminium. She uses various motifs that reference her cultural heritage and comment on ancient tradition and the effects of colonization; fusing the personal and political.
She has created a number of public commissioned works around Aotearoa, including Hamilton Gardens, Auckland’s Britomart, and Central Ōtautahi. Her most recent, greets visitors to the convention centre, Te Pae; hanging in the foyer, Hana is made up of 11,000 glass and acrylic beads that weigh over a tonne.
Lonnie has taught Art and Art History and Theory in various colleges and universities in Australasia, and has had management roles for various arts organisations. In 2000, Hutchinson was the first female artist recipient of the Macmillan Brown Centre for Pacific Studies residency at the University of Canterbury, and was also a recipient of the first International Indigenous Art residency at the Banff Art Centre, in Alberta, Canada in 2003.
Public commissions include the aforementioned Hana (2022) at Te Pae Christchurch Convention Centre, Aroha ki te Ora, (2020, Britomart, Auckland) perforated and folded aluminium panels that tell the Ngāi Tahu creation story, Pikihuia i te ao, i te pō, and Kahu Matarau, 2 large scale integrations into the exterior of the Christchurch Justice and Emergency Services Precinct, 2017. Aroha Atu, Aroha Mai, a neon art work in Manukau City, 2015. Te Waharoa ki te ao Mārama, (a freestanding Corten steel sculpture) Hamilton Lake, 2013. Honoa ki te Hono Tawhiti, 12 permanent wall works for the re-build of the Auckland Art Gallery 2011. Lonnie’s work can be found in The Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tamaki, the Christchurch Art Gallery Te Puna O Waiwhetu, the Hocken Library Dunedin, the Queensland Art Gallery, the National Gallery of Australia, the Chartwell Collection and in private collections throughout New Zealand and abroad.