Zena Elliott

Dr. Zena Elliott (Ngāti Awa) is an interdisciplinary artist and researcher with a PhD from Auckland University of Technology (AUT). Elliott’s work blends speculative fiction, Indigenous Futurism, and contemporary art with elements of popular culture, whakairo (carving), painting, multimodal moving image, and sonic architecture. Elliott creates hybrid sculptural forms, moving image performance, and temporal installations that challenge conventional artistic boundaries. Their practice investigates the intersections of ecology, technology, built environment, Indigenous science/engineering, gender, identity and creative practice, using new/repurposed materials and regenerative processes to address colonial narratives through multimodal approaches.

Elliott received the prestigious 2025 National Contemporary Art Award from Waikato Museum. Furthermore, Elliott is set to undertake an artist residency at McCahon House in 2026. With a professional career exceeding 25 years, Elliott has exhibited widely in both artist-run initiatives and public institutions through solo and group exhibitions, including Toi Tū Toi Ora: Contemporary Māori Art at Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki. Elliott’s work is also represented in various national and international publications.