Artist
Selwyn Muru
- Name
- Selwyn Muru
- Iwi/Ethnicity
- Te Aupōuri/MāoriNgāti Kurī/Māori
- Date of Birth
- 06 Sep 1937
- Place of Birth
- Te Hapua/Northland (region)/New Zealand
- Date of Death
- 24 Jan 2024
Jump To
Artworks
Biography
Selwyn Muru was born in Te Hāpua in the Far North. His life’s work spans radio broadcast, drama, acting, set design, sculpture, painting, poetry and whaikōrero (formal oratory).
As both a journalist and artist, Selwyn has focused on communicating Māori stories and mythologies, history, contemporary life and ongoing injustices. The paintings in his *Parihaka* series (1975–79) tell the story of passive resistance from a Māori perspective. His work has been similiarly outspoken on the issues of nuclear testing in the Pacific and the apartheid regime in South Africa.
In 1990, Muru received Te Waka Toi’s Te Tohu mō Te Arikinui Dame Te Atairangikaahu Award for his contributions to Māori visual art, broadcasting, journalism and whaikōrero.
As both a journalist and artist, Selwyn has focused on communicating Māori stories and mythologies, history, contemporary life and ongoing injustices. The paintings in his *Parihaka* series (1975–79) tell the story of passive resistance from a Māori perspective. His work has been similiarly outspoken on the issues of nuclear testing in the Pacific and the apartheid regime in South Africa.
In 1990, Muru received Te Waka Toi’s Te Tohu mō Te Arikinui Dame Te Atairangikaahu Award for his contributions to Māori visual art, broadcasting, journalism and whaikōrero.
Artworks by Selwyn Muru (4)
Untitled Taupiri Mountain
Selwyn Muru
circa 1965
Artwork
Sambo
Selwyn Muru
1965
Artwork
Peter I
Selwyn Muru
1960-1963
Artwork
Archway for Henry Moore
Selwyn Muru
1986
Artwork
Next Artist