About River Jayden

Ngāti Tahu-Ngāti Whaoa, Ngāti Apakura & Ngāti Maniapoto

River Jayden is a Māori artist and designer whose practice spans painting, digital illustration, public art, and product design. Renowned for her bold use of colour, River creates work that is both visually captivating and culturally significant.

At the heart of her practice is an ongoing exploration of Māori history, identity, and the lasting impacts of colonisation. Her practice investigates the appropriation of Māori culture within colonial and religious contexts, with a particular focus on the use of kōwhaiwhai patterns in Christian spaces as a tool of assimilation. Her work examines these complex histories while encouraging meaningful conversations around cultural representation, ownership, and identity.

"Research is fundamental to my creative practice. It inspires me to create work that sparks discussion, challenges perspectives, and explores narratives that are often politically and culturally charged." — River Jayden

Alongside her painting practice, River has developed a distinctive body of digital work that transforms traditional Māori design elements into contemporary artworks, clothing, accessories, and prints. Drawing inspiration from kōwhaiwhai, whakairo, and the natural world. Her signature style combines strong visual storytelling with striking colour palettes, making her work instantly recognisable and highly sought after.

River's work has been exhibited both nationally and internationally, and she continues to expand her practice through large-scale public art projects, product collaborations, and new exhibition bodies of work.

Through every medium, her goal remains the same: to bring Māori culture to the forefront and allow the audience to engage with te ao Māori (Māori worldview).

Public Install & Exhibition History:

2026 - Ōpāwaho Awa - Glass Installation, HAPA design at Tannery
2026 - Te Pūrakau o Ngutuawa Public Mural, Ngutuawa Kura
2026 - Ururangi Matariki Sculpture Trail, Tauranga Domain
2025 - Te Pūrakau ā Tiki rāua ko Tūtānekai public mural, Arts Centre Christchurch
2025- Teretere, Glass Installation, Tira Office Auckland
2024 - Te Tihi o Kahukura public install, Te Pae Convention Centre
2024 - Wai we Tangi?, Napier Art Gallery
2023 - Te Orokohanga o Te Ao, Solo Exhibition, Pierside Gallery
2023 - Matariki, Green and Gold Gallery, Geraldine
2023 - Banks Peninsula Auction, Lyttelton
2023 - Public Install Te Pae Convention Centre, Christchurch
2018 - 2022 Pride. Windsor Gallery, Christchurch
2019 - Everybody Eats. XCHC, Christchurch
2019 - Māori Toi. Linwood Gallery, Christchurch
2018 - Hoisers Grown up. Hoiser Lane, Melbourne