Painting has always been my place of solitude and peace. It was after my Grandmother Iliganoa Lela'ulu passed away in the late 80s that I truly began to explore the emotional places painting took me, looking deeper into the feelings behind the layers of paint.
Nanette Lela'ulu is a New Zealand-born artist of Samoan descent. Renowned for her evocative portraits and exploration of Pacific diasporic narratives, Lela'ulu addresses themes of cultural displacement, family relationships, sexulaity, identity and the influence of mainstream religion and western culture within her work.
An exhibiting artist since 1990, Lelaulu has an extensive CV, including public and private exhibitions in Frankfurt, Hawaii, Rarotonga, New Caledonia, Auckland, Christchurch & Wellington. Her CV also includies notable collaborations with Pacific contemporaries Andy Leleisi'uao, in the joint exhibition A Tribute to Western Samoa, Salamander Gallery, 2003 and the Shigeyuki Kahara curated group show Measina F’a fafine, Artstation, 2007.
In 2006, Lela'ulu was awarded the Cook Islands Artist in Residence by Creative New Zealand and the Cook Islands Ministry of Cultural Development. Based in Rarotonga for 3 months, Nanette delivered the solo exhibition All that we are. She also earned her Master of Arts in Therapy with First Class Honours. Nanette further achieved First Class Honours for her Clinical Masters of Arts in Therapy in 2012. That same year, she made the Cook Islands her home, where she continues to exhibit and explore therapeutic methodologies through her art.
Her paintings are held in prominent collections, including the Tjibaou Cultural Centre in New Caledonia, the Museum of Ethnology in Frankfurt, Germany, and the Wallace Arts Trust, Auckland, New Zealand. Additionally, she has illustrated several books for publishers Huia Publishing, Little Island Press, and the Cengage Group. In 2022, Lela'ulu authored and published the childrens book, Can you see what I see, a collaborative effort with Auckland-based artist Chloe Marsters. The book explores the power of perspective and listening through a lyrical narrative.
Today, Nanette Lela'ulu's work continues to resonate with audiences, offering profound insights into cultural identity, personal history, and the shared human experience.