Linda Va'aelua - Visual Artist | Designer

Creative Matters

Linda Va’aelua is a full time visual artist and designer of Samoan Scottish heritage. She grew up in the West Auckland suburb of Te Atatu South and is based in Tāmaki Makaurau, Auckland.

Linda straddles the worlds of digital graphic design and fine arts. Her aim is always to bring unique perspectives to the creative landscape. Her recent work explores her identity and mixed heritage through abstract maunga forms and malu patterns.

Linda strives to provoke emotions and challenge conventional perspectives. Each piece she creates is an invitation for the audience to delve into a world where the norm begs to be understood then challenged. From abstract compositions that explore the depths of human emotions to intricate digital collages that merge analog and thought, her artwork tells stories that resonate with diverse audiences within Pasifika and beyond.

We have an inspiring chat about how Linda studied design after leaving school and became an art director for a magazine at the young age of 25 and how years later she started painting and created a virtual show of the first works she produced, marking the beginning of her full time art practice. Linda talks about her incredibly busy, successful last 2 years where she has had 3 solo shows and more than 12 group shows, written and designed a book and curated a show and is now working on a joint show with her sister Alison - all at the same time as being a dedicated mum to 4 children. https://www.instagram.com/lindavaaeluaartist/

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Chapters

1. Linda Va'aelua - Visual Artist | Designer (00:00:00)

2. Growing up mixed heritage (00:03:48)

3. Discovering creativity in childhood (00:06:07)

4. Art at high school (00:07:32)

5. Studying design at Unitec (00:10:32)

6. First job as a designer (00:13:15)

7. Working in a creative industry as a mother (00:15:25)

8. Getting back to work after raising children (00:21:48)

9. Starting up painting at a later stage (00:26:05)

10. Expressing identity (00:26:54)

11. Creating a virtual exhibition (00:28:24)

12. Exhibiting work (00:31:41)

13. Building community (00:32:19)

14. Networking (00:36:40)

15. Solo show (00:37:01)

16. Showing work (00:40:01)

17. Showing with a dealer gallery (00:42:09)

18. Using repurposed materials (00:44:52)

19. Expressing identity (00:46:06)

20. Solo show (00:46:06)

21. Solo show at a dealer gallery (00:52:47)

22. Talking about artworks (00:54:11)

23. Putting in proposals (01:00:22)

24. Talking about artworks (01:03:41)