Marcus Hipa (b. Alofi, Niue) is a Niuean-New Zealand artist whose work investigates the social and psychological dimensions of Pacific experience within a globalised world. A graduate of the Elam School of Fine Arts, University of Auckland, Hipa has developed a visual language that draws equally from traditional Niuean pattern, carving and symbolism, and from the graphic intensity of contemporary urban culture.
Working predominantly in large-scale painting and drawing, Hipa's compositions are marked by bold geometry, layered texture, and a dynamic interplay between control and spontaneity. His practice often references history, migration, identity, and the ongoing negotiation between heritage and modernity. Underpinning these formal concerns is a clear-eyed examination of how the Pacific continues to define its place amid the lingering effects of colonial history and the accelerating forces of global change.
In an upcoming body of work, Hipa revisits the story of Polynesian soldiers who served in the First World War, reframing this history through a contemporary Pacific lens. Rather than centring loss or subjugation, the series reflects a forward-facing perspective-one that acknowledges the past while embracing technology, education, and cultural enterprise as pathways to regional confidence and renewal.
Hipa has exhibited in Aotearoa New Zealand, Niue, and internationally. His practice embodies the independence and ambition of a new generation of Pacific artists: grounded in ancestral knowledge, fluent in global discourse, and committed to reshaping how the region sees itself - and is seen by the world.