Contemporary New Zealand Art
Delicia Sampero
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  • Bio/ Contact
    • Biography
    • Contact
    • Writing /Press
  • Projects
    • Traffic to the Future
    • Conference of the Birds >
      • 2024-2025 Conference of the Birds
      • Conference Of the Birds - Wildflower
      • Conference of the Birds VIDEO 2013
      • Conference of the Birds -KAURI
      • Conference of the Birds 2014
      • Conference of the Birds VIDEO 2014
      • Conference of the Birds -MATARIKI MANU RERE
      • The Kauri Project / Group
      • Birdfigures
    • Playing the Game
    • Playing the Game - Part 2
    • Temporary
    • Metamorphosis
    • The Mirror Mama Project
    • I AM - Portrait installation
    • Muttermal ( Birthmark )
    • In the Shoes of Another
    • Thief of Dreams
    • A Well Written Body ( book )
  • Exhibitions
    • The Figurative Collective / In the Flow
    • Tu'u tu'u i le loloto / Take it to the deep
    • Heartbeat
    • Threads of touch
    • Signs
    • Interface / Systemic
    • The Digital and I Project
    • In Transit
    • Reflective
    • Painted Signs
    • Urban kids
    • Pacific Paintings
    • Paint & movement

​Biography


​Visual Artist 

Paintings, Portraits,  Installations, Site- specific Work, Commissions, Workshops and Interdisciplinary Collaborations.
Specialised in using recycled traffic signs as an art medium.

Education 

Painter and installation artist  whose training and inspiration are informed by her upbringing, her tri-cultural family (Germany, New Zealand and Samoa), travel, creative friends and her interests in dance, spirituality and ecology.

1996-2002       Member of MAU Dance company founded and directed by Lemi Ponifasio (performer, photos, props...)
2016- 2017​      Master of Arts Management >
2017-2018       MCCP with first Class Honours (Master of Cultural and Creative Practice),  Auckland University of Technology. 


Art Philosophy

Sampero's practice is characterised by ongoing cross- disciplinary exploration and research.

​Please refer to university dissertation pages 21-34 for discussion of artwork in relation to digital technology and health.
openrepository.aut.ac.nz/items/507ef632-d984-4c4f-8538-97307c9aaf3e

Please contact for information on current research.


Selected Solo Exhibitions / Installations

2024 / 2025  Conference of the Birds, Lopdell House Gallery,  Auckland 

2024.  Tu'u tu'u i le loloto - Take it to the Deep,  Papakura Art Gallery, Auckland 

2022   Heartbeat, Exhibition of traffic sign paintings, Koru Galleries, New Plymouth, Taranaki

2020   Threads of Touch, VIsual Arts Trail for the Harcourts Hawke's Bay Arts Festival  with works at Muse Gallery, Boyd-Dunlop Gallery, Tennyson Gallery,
            CAN Gallery, Arts Inc. Gallery, Keirunga Gardens Theatre, Hastings Opera House, Toi Toi Events Centre


2019  Signs, Exhibition of traffic sign paintings, ​curated by Warren Pringle, Auckland University of Technology

2018  The Digital and I Project,  ​Artist Residency, exhibition and workshop, Green Bay High School, Auckland

2017  In Transit , Exhibition of traffic sign paintings, Franklin Arts Centre, Pukekohe / Auckland

2014   Conference of the Birds , Installation in public space: On and around  Lopdell House Gallery, Titirangi Village, Off-site gallery in New Lynn/ Auckland

2013   The Mirror Mama Project, collaboration, East West Gallery/ Auckland

2012   Reflective,  Orex Gallery / Auckland

2009   The Mirror Mama Project,  collaboration, Hastings City Gallery /Hawkes Bay

2009   The Mirror Mama Project,  collaboration, MAU Forum / Auckland

           Funded by Creative Communities

2008   I AM  painting installation, National Portrait Gallery / Wellington

2008   A Well Written Body,  Exhibition and book launch, Aotea Centre / Auckland,

2007   I AM , painting installation, Lopdell house/ Waitakere City

2008   www .ambassadors.co.nz,  Oedipus Rex Gallery, Auckland

2006   I AM,  Oedipus Rex gallery/ Auckland

2005   Here Today,  Oedipus Rex gallery /Auckland

2002   He Tangata,  Gallery Ngano / Berlin

2001   Muttermal  , Oedipus Rex Gallery/ Auckland

2001   Chrysalis , Oedipus Rex gallery, Auckland

2000   Body as door,  Oedipus Rex /Auckland

1999   Malaga,  Madd Gallery / Apia

1999   Present,  Oedipus Rex Gallery,Auckland

1998   Lagona - Sea Beneath My Skin,  Oedipus Rex Gallery- Auckland

1997   Sensha,  Archill Gallery- Auckland

1993   Space- Within,  Marylin Savill Gallery- Wellington

1992   Bewegung und Farben  , Dresdner Bank , Isny , Germany



Selected Group Exhibitions


2025 Paritua Sculpture Trail,  Bridge Pa, Hawkes bay 

​2024 The Figurative Collective - Boyd-Dunlop Gallery, Napier

2022  Heterodox Us- ​New Zealand Steel Gallery, Franklin Arts Centre, Auckland, Curated by Andy Leleisi'uao and Ben Bergman

2022  Sunday Girl - ​Corbans Art Estate, Curated by Leela Bhai

2021 Remembering Roy- ​Hastings Community Arts Centre during the Hawke's Bay Arts Festival.
         
Tribute Exhibition in memory of Roy Dunningham,
         With works and tributes from 47 artist.
         Curated by Delicia Sampero and John Eden.
      

2021  The Scent of Two Lands -​ Arthaus, Auckland

2021  Barrel Store Colony-​ Barrel store building-  Corbans Art Estate, Auckland

2020  Adam Portraiture Award -  Finalist- The New Zealand Portrait Gallery, Shed 11, Wellington and Touring Show 

2020  TEMPORARY and Playing the Game, for Nomadic Art Gallery - ​Curated by Arthur Buerms and Eugenie Coche

2019  Sunday Girl - ​Corbans Art Estate, Curated by Leela Bhai
​
2018  The Kauri Project - ​Nathan Homestead, Titirangi, Auckland

​2018  The Kauri Project - ​Arataki Visitors Centre,Titirangi, Auckland

2018  The Digital and I Project signs -  Wildflower Sculpture exhibition, Hawkes Bay 

2016   Playing the Game 2-  ​ Wildflower Sculpture exhibition, Hawkes Bay 

​2016  Transfiguration -Tasman Toyota, with Koru On Devon Gallery Collective, Taranaki 

2014   Playing the Game- 10 th Biennial -Sculpture on the shore , Devonport / Auckland

2014   Conference of the Birds – Wildflower, Installation  at Wildflower Sculpture exhibition, Hawkes Bay

2014   Matariki Manu Rere - Conference of the Birds - Installation at Matapihi Art Gallery and the Raglan Old School Art Centre, Raglan /Waikato ​

2013   TEMPORARY, Headlands- Sculpture on the Gulf Biennale, Waiheke Island

2012   East, Hawkes Bay Exhibition Centre, Hastings

2011   Hawkes Bay Invitational, Hawkes Bay Exhibition Centre, Hastings

2010   Hawkes Bay Invitational, Hawkes Bay Exhibition Centre, Hastings

1996   Back to Basics, Madd Gallery- Apia / Samoa

1994-1996   Theatre of Paint, Dija Gallery, co- owned with Davíd Khoury, James Smith Building, Wellington

1994   Backbone, Merylin Savill Gallery, Wellington

1995   Dual, The Vault Gallery, Wellington

1993   Space Between, City Limits, Wellington

           WINNER of the The Merilyn Savill Young Artist of the Year Award

1993   Hawkes Bay Review, Hawkes Bay Museum, Napier

1990   The White-house Exhibition, Barreto residence, Honolulu Hawaii

1990   Hawkes Bay Review, Hastings City Gallery, Hastings




Collections 
Works held in public and private collections including New Zealand Portrait Gallery, Wallace Arts Trust, Auckland University of Technology, Reef Shipping collection, Massey University, University of Samoa, World Bank Washington DC, Devon Hotel, Barretto, Ziegler, Volkmann, Michael Hill Collection, Jack and Trelise Cooper, Carol Hirschfeld, Lucy Lawless, David Blackmore, Koea family...

​Awards
1994  Merylin Savill Award, Merlin Savill Gallery, Wellington 
2019  The Deans Excellent Award, Arts and Design Department / ​Master of Cultural and Creative Practice / Auckland University of Technology
. 
2020  Adam Portraiture Award -  Finalist- The New Zealand Portrait Gallery, Shed 11, Wellington and Touring Show 


Touring Public Art Installations

Conference of the Birds 
2012   McCahon House
2013   Sculpture on the Gulf, Pavilion
2014   Te Uru Gallery and Lopdell House, Auckland

2014   Matapihi gallery /Raglan
2015   Wildflower Exhibition / Hawkes Bay
2015   Arataki Visitors Centre

2018   Nathan Homestead Gallery

Temporary
2013   Headlands- Sculpture on the Gulf Biennale, Waiheke 2020
2020 -2021 Nomadic Art Gallery Tour of New Zealand 
​2021   Nomadic Art Gallery  exhibition/ Corbans Art Centre / Auckland


The Mirror Mama Project
Collaboration with Master Crafts Artists- Mamas from the Pacific, Africa and the Middle East 

2009   MAU Forum, Corbans Estate, Auckland
2009   Hastings City Gallery
2013   East West Gallery, Auckland


I AM
2006    Orex Gallery, Auckland CBD
2007    Lopdell House gallery, Titirangi, Auckland
2008    National Portrait Gallery, Wellington
2015    Hastings Community Art Centre



Selected Publications

​Sampero's work has been published online, in books , calendars and magazines ( see Writing/ Press in drop down menu )
           Art New Zealand 
           ART New Zealand Today, edited by E.M. Caughey 
          12 Contemporary New Zealand Artists , published by Saint Publishers... 



Commissions & Collaborations for /with Poet Karlo Mila. 

2012   Bookcover- Welcome to our world ?! –Paul Spoonley & Richard Bedford- Dunmore publishing

2010   Bookcover-New Zealand and international Migration, Digest and Bibliography- Massey university

2008   Book collaborator Mila K. & Sampero D., 2008, A Well Written Body

           Book of painting and poetry ,Huia publishers, WGT.

2005   Book cover- Dream Fish Floating, written by Karlo MIla, published by Huia

2020   Catalogue for Threads of Touch


2019 The Digital and I Project - Tuwhera Open Access - Masters research project - dissertation author 

          openrepository.aut.ac.nz/items/507ef632-d984-4c4f-8538-97307c9aaf3e



Selected Dance Performances 

1996-2002  Performer in MAU Dance company founded and directed by Lemi Ponifasio
                   (performer, photographer, costume, props)
​


1996    Illumina, Taki Rua Theatre, Wellington

1996    Lo’omatua, Maidment Theatre, Auckland 

1996    The Ancient Mother, Madd Gallery , Apia, Samoa


1997    Aria, Sacred Hill Winery , Hawkes Bay

1998    Light. WOMAD, Auckland , New Zealand

1998    Ava, Maidment Theatre, Auckland 

1999    Rise, Winter Garden, Auckland 

1997    Sacred Hill, Taupo Festival

2001    Land, Tjibaou Cultural  Centre, New Caledonia

2002    Boneflute Iviivi, Maidment Theatre, Auckland


2002    Boneflute, Adelaide Festival, Adelaide, Australia



2003   Paradise,  (Costume )Sky City Theatre, Auckland 

2006    Opus Dei, MAU Forum ,Auckland 

2008    I am Tuhoe,  Te Rewarewa Maree, Ruatoki, Urawera

2011.   Le Savalii ( Voice performer)  Berliner Festspiele, Berlin , Germany 

2017    Die Gabe der Kinder -  Hamburg, Theater der Welt, Germany 



Selected Multimedia Projects

1994   Painter and performer Malipo'o Magnifico, Belboa Park, California

1990   Co-Initiator Artquake, Multimedia Art Event, Napier

1992   Author and Performer Thief of Dreams Multimedia production

          -Hastings group theatre &  Bats Theatre Wellington

1992  The Garden, Street-performances  with Wale Ojo, Paris /Les Halles

1991   Enigma Streetdance Season with Lisa Hay, Guy MPondo, Frederic Dupuis,  Paris (Pompidou, Les Halles, St Michell , Champs Elysee, Notre Dame)



Video Works published on Youtube

2013   Conference of the Birds 
           www.youtube.com/watch?v=4nlKedar9CA     

​2014.  Conference of the birds 
           www.youtube.com/watch?v=oEtwLem-Bxk&t=2s

2016   Traffic to the Future
           Online exhibition on you-tube, a curatorial project
           https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aAdwCUWSWgk
​

2009   Artistic Film Director,
           with HB Intercultural Youth Group, (full video: 40 minutes)
           www.youtube.com/watch?v=WfZcby-Mfpw&t=8s
           awarded certificates by Human Rights Commissioner Joris De Bres

2020   Threads of Touch 
            Boyd Dunlop Gallery ​
            www.youtube.com/watch?v=J36NMhCc6tU&t=131s          

2020   Threads of Touch / Ambassadors 
            Furnware Ambassador Programme Toitoi Opera House, Hastings, New Zealand Harcourts Hawke's Bay Arts Festival 2020
            Threads of Touch is based on a participatory concept developed for the Festival by visual artist Delicia Sampero.
            The performance was guided by Director Lisa-Jane Easter.

            www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZSAH7vJUnzw

Selected Teaching / Facilitation Projects
  


2020  The Ambassadors Youth Program, Threads of Touch, concept / dramaturg, directed by LJ Easter,  Hastings Opera House, Hawkes Bay

2019  The Digital and I Project Youth Workshop, New Zealand Steel Gallery, Franklin Art Centre, Auckland

2018  The Digital and I Project,  ​Artist Residency, exhibition and workshop, Green Bay High School, Auckland

2009  In the Shoes Of Another, Art And Film Project, with Hawkes Bay Intercultural Youth Group​ around exploring prejudices.
           
           http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WfZcby-Mfpw,  Awarded with certificates from Joris de Bres / Human Rights Commission

2009   Portrait Painting Workshop, Individual portraits & group portraits, ​with Hawkes Bay Intercultural Youth Group  

2009   Trash to Fashion, ​section winner, Laingholm Primary school project : The Giant Superhero Centipede ​costume 

​2006 -2008  Artist Talks and/ or workshops: Kelston Girls  High School, Classics department, Massey University, Laingholm Primary, Studio workshops ...​ 

​2006  ​ Celebrate Art NZ​ (​interactiveeducationie.net.nz) Art / Educational Poster Initiative for schools : "Delicia Sampero"

1990   The Whitehouse Children's Exhibition,  Painting and drawing workshop for children with a sell -out kids exhibition !