about Tracey

From my art studio in Tauranga, New Zealand, I explore nostalgia, human connection, and our relationship with the natural world.

I was lucky to grow up in 70s New Zealand. My childhood was spent outside, in nature and largely unsupervised. Leisure time was spent doing simple things, freely. Fishing, walking in our native bush, reading, exploring the neighbourhood on our bikes, visiting friends baches, and overcoming boredom in any way we could think of.

I still experience that sense of freedom when we pack up our van and go camping, find a swimming hole to dip in, listen to the roar of a waterfall, feel the coolness of the bush on a hot day, or dive under a wave. Removing myself from machines, screens and man made noise, even for short bursts of time, is vital to me.

While my artwork has shifted over time, these two recurring themes of nostalgia and people in nature are deeply embedded in it all.

In 2024 I was also part of a small, volunteer team of artists who brought the first BOP Open Studios art trail to life, connecting artists with local art lovers across the Bay of Plenty region. I’d love to do more to connect art and the community in creative and inclusive ways, but don’t have all the pieces of the puzzle yet. I’m sure the answers will arrive when the time is right.

I balance art with work and family life. There’s always compromise, but I’d rather show up imperfectly, messy and human than not at all.

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Love T x