Karl Chitham

Karl Chitham (Te Uriroroi, Ngā Puhi) ONZM is Head of Arts & Culture for Hutt City Council and director of The Dowse Art Museum. He has written for multiple arts publications including co-authoring the ground-breaking book Crafting Aotearoa: A Cultural History of New Zealand and the Wider Moana Oceania. He has curated numerous exhibitions and contributed to accompanying publications for 'Whetūrangitia/Made As Stars', 'Reuben Paterson: The Only Dream Left' (co-curated with Aaron Lister for City Gallery, Wellington) and 'Whatu Manawa: Celebrating the weaving of Matekino Lawless', 'Toi Mauri: Contemporary Māori art' by Todd Couper and 'Whenua Hou: New Māori ceramics' as director and curator at Tauranga Art Gallery. Chitham has held roles in universities, museums and art galleries and is a trustee of Wairau Māori Art Gallery, the first dedicated public Māori art gallery in Aotearoa.

Photo courtesy of author.