For Raglan Area School student Talaia Cowley, painting has always been a passion. That dedication was recognised on a national stage this year, with her first acrylic portrait selected for display at the NZQA Ringa Toi Exhibition at Te Papa Museum in Wellington.
When did you know that art was a subject at school that you wanted to pursue?
Art has always been a passion of mine, and I found myself drawn to painting, specifically water colour, ever since I was little. I knew I wanted to pursue art as a subject when my mum told me that I had a natural gift for painting after creating several decorative Christmas cards for my family. I convinced myself they weren’t anything special, but from her reaction, I knew I could take this passion and turn it into a way of expressing my Samoan heritage.
What do you like painting?
Now, being a senior in the last year of high school, I’ve created lots of different paintings that symbolise who I am and where I come from.
I’ve always been comfortable working with watercolour and pencil, but have only recently discovered my talent for painting with acrylic paint. I enjoy painting a variety of things, but I especially enjoy painting the beauty of Polynesian women, vibrant landscapes, and working with different flowers.
What did it feel like to be selected for the NZQA Ringa Toi Exhibition ?
My teacher didn’t actually tell me she submitted my art piece to the NZQA Ringa Toi Exhibition in Te Papa Museum, which I’m super pleased with because I’ve never been pushed to share my artwork with people. She knew that it would take some convincing for me to let her send it off, as I’m not the typical type to show off my accomplishments. When she told me my artwork was accepted, I felt both surprised and thrilled at the same time. I felt proud to be able to finally share my passion for art through the painting I did of my little sister, and excited that lots of people were going to see it with my name on it.
Tell us about the artwork selected.
The artwork that was accepted was an original photo of my little sister, Lola, staring up at the camera, wearing a vibrant coloured flower crown. This art piece was the first acrylic-based painting that I had ever done, and I found it difficult to work with in the beginning, but I learnt to love it. Throughout the painting were many different colours and a detailed painted face, which I have to admit was extremely difficult to paint. I’ve always struggled with portrait art, but this was especially hard as I knew exactly what she was supposed to look like and tried to perfect it over and over again. Overall, this painting is one of my greatest achievements, and I’m so proud of the endless support and encouragement from my peers, teachers, and family.
The Te Papa exhibition took place from September 15th to September 28th, 2025.
