Kulimoe'anga Stone Maka

Place: Pātangata

Born: 1971

Biography:

Stone Maka, also known as Kulimoe'anga Stone Maka, is an interdisciplinary artist of Tongan heritage who was born in Pātangata, Tonga in 1971. He grew up with little financial resource, but was inspired by his teacher, Professor Viliami Toluta'u and Ve'etūtū Pahulu, to become a professional artist. Maka's work has been exhibited in museums and art galleries in New Zealand, Hawai'i, Australia, and Tonga. In 2011, he was awarded the Emerging Pasifika Artist Award from Creative New Zealand. In 2020, he was selected to represent New Zealand at the 22nd Biennale in Sydney.