Kalani Tukuafu

I’m a working artist specializing in utilizing Pacific Island patterns and designs within a modern context. My medium has been primarily acrylic painting on canvas, but I have recently begun expanding my practice to include multimedia/textile/traditional materials in addition to my paintings. I am in the midst of an apprenticeship with cultural master craftsman Haviar Hafoka, and my goal is to learn everything I can about my Pacific Island patterns and designs so that I am able to teach these things to future generations. My art is important to me because it helps my children have the visual representation of their culture that I lacked when I was growing up, and I hope to help many others experience representation as well.