ABOUT
Shawnee Tekii is an urban artist specialising in paintings and illustrations. Her creative journey began early, with a passion for the arts driving her decision to leave school to pursue a Foundation Certificate at Whitecliffe College of Arts and Design. Shawnee went on to complete her Bachelor of Fine Arts degree at Whitecliffe, where she now serves as an art and design lecturer. She also shares her expertise at Te Wānanga o Aotearoa.
A highlight of Shawnee’s career includes being awarded the Prime Minister’s Scholarship, which enabled her to complete a two-month artist residency in Tokyo, Japan, in 2024. Shawnee lives and works in West Auckland, New Zealand, where her studio is also located.
PRACTICE
Shawnee celebrates the beauty of urban life by reimagining often-overlooked landscapes as vibrant, energetic compositions. Her work draws heavily from her surroundings, capturing the bold and dynamic essence of locations like Auckland’s Karangahape Road and New York’s Brooklyn. By weaving together streetwear culture, iconic landmarks, and the everyday lives of her subjects, Shawnee transforms familiar urban environments into artworks fuelled with life and colour.
Working primarily with high-quality acrylic and aerosol paints, Shawnee’s pieces are sealed in glossy resin to enhance their vibrancy and longevity. Her bold colour palettes, funky compositions, and contemporary aesthetics create a striking visual language, often featuring characters styled in streetwear and surrounded by iconic urban symbols.
Through her works, Shawnee invites viewers to see the world differently, turning the mundane into extraordinary. Her artworks serve as conversation starters, encouraging individuals to recognise familiar landscapes or elements and build personal connections. By highlighting the intersections of culture, community, and individuality, her work fosters a shared appreciation of urban life while celebrating its power to inspire connection and storytelling.