Ana Teofilo
New Zealand born Samoan artist Ana Teofilo merges her Samoan heritage with western influence to create dynamic and contemporary Pasifika artworks.
Teofilo’s distinctive Polynesian motifs are rendered by the artist carving directly into shaped boards, working to small, mid, and large-scale in circular, square, and frangipani-like forms. She then adorns her carved surfaces with opaque glue dots that offer a reflective quality, echoing the surrounding colours and emphasising a sense of interplay between sculptural form and intricate detail.
Teofilo was the recipient of the Con Hutton Scholarship in 2015, contributing the completion of her Masters in Visual Arts from the Dunedin School of Art at Otago Polytechnic. She showed at Auckland Art Fair 2018, and was the 2022 winner of the Edinburgh Premier Art Award. Teofilo’s works are held in private collections, internationally and within New Zealand.
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Artworks by Ana Teofilo
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Breath of Time – Yellow
See Artwork »Breath of Time:
Explores the connection between different generations and the continuous circle of life. Each band represents a generation, carrying its own stories, experiences, knowledge and memories, while remaining connected to those who came before and those who will come after. The circular form reflects the ongoing journey of life birth, growth, passing on, and renewal. It speaks to the breath that connects us across time, honouring our ancestors, recognising the present generation, and creating a pathway for those yet to come. It is a reminder that although each generation has its own identity and journey, we are all part of the same continuing story. -
Woven Into Us
See Artwork »Woven Into Us is both a reflection and a commitment to honour those who came before us, recognise the knowledge woven into who we are, and ensure what we carry today is passed on to those who come after us.
Hand carved into board, the three round bands represent the layers of whakapapa and lived experience connecting past, present, and future. Each carved line and form reflects knowledge that has been learned, practised, shared, and carried forward. The purple represents the depth and strength of these connections, speaking to mana, spirituality, wisdom, and the enduring presence of our Ancestors within us.
The centre represents our foundation and the core values we carry with us into the different spaces and stages of our journey. The repetitive glue dots extending toward the four points symbolize our journey, the milestones, footprints, and experiences that shape the path we take.