Sheree Willman

Sheree Willman (Ngāti Kahungunu, Rangitāne) is a painter based in Te Whanganui-a-Tara, Aotearoa New Zealand. She studied Contemporary Māori Design in Wellington, where her creative foundation was shaped by an early interest in pattern, form, and the cultural narratives embedded within traditional Māori art practices.

Her work is deeply informed by a personal journey of reconnection with Te Ao Māori and her whakapapa. Drawing inspiration from the weavers of her tīpuna, Sheree explores the visual language of raranga (weaving), tukutuku (ornamental lattice), and tāniko (twining) art forms traditionally crafted by wāhine Māori to pass down knowledge, genealogy, and storytelling through generations.

Her paintings are rich with geometric pattern, rhythmic structure, and symbolic repetition, echoing the visual systems found in customary Māori design. Over time, her practice has continued to evolve, now drawing inspiration from whakairo (carving) and kōwhaiwhai (painted rafter patterns). These forms, with their fluid curvilinear lines and deep spiritual symbolism, offer new pathways for expression and further deepen her connection to mātauranga Māori.

Through layering, composition, she creates contemporary works that honour the strength and knowledge of the past while asserting her voice in the present. In 2021, Sheree was named a finalist in the National Contemporary Art Awards. Her work continues to grow as a living expression of identity, reconnection, and cultural continuity—grounded in whakapapa, guided by wairua, and woven with intent.