Contact
+64 (0)27 5266 245
Christchurch, New Zealand
hello@hannahjensen.co.nz

Commissions are currently on hold until further notice

“Living to create and creating to live”

Bio

A powerhouse of creativity, with a passion for the great outdoors, my carved works are often inspired by my time spent in nature. I intricately hand carve images into layers of acrylic paint; a technique I created in 2003 while at Auckland University of Technology. I achieve my bespoke work by applying anywhere between 40-80 layers of acrylic paint to custom made framed ply boards before carving back through the layers, revealing the colours beneath. The results are detailed images rendered in negative relief that emphasise the texture and tonal variations between paint colours in a topographical manner. Amplifying the very nature I adore so much.

Technically, I’m a multidisciplinary artist, with a love of drawing, photography, etching, printing and more. However, I’m more well-known for my carved works. Having graduated University in 2004 with a Bachelor of Visual Arts, majoring in printmaking, the paint carving discovery in my second year of study took me on this wonderful journey that I am still challenged by (in a good way), to this day. Hundreds of litres of paint later, I am still hooked.

In 2004, I was nominated for a Mazda Emerging Artist award; in 2009, I was a finalist in the World of Wearable Arts; and in 2012 I created an installation at the prestigious New Zealand Fashion Week. In 2014 I lived and created in Venice Beach, California for the ‘Kiwis in LA’ exhibition. I completed my dream show ‘WILD‘; eight impressive large-scale animal works exhibited in 2018. And now I’ve embarked on a new adventure in the South Island, carving from my beachside pad, a stones through away from ocean and mountains; my favourite place to be when I’m not carving.

Having completed over 200 commissions from 2018-2022, I took a break to dive back into some passion pieces and harvest my own ideas and experiments, I am thoroughly enjoying pushing my own boundaries. Therefore, I am currently taking a break from any commissioned work. Multi-coloured and multi-palette works are on the horizon and huge passion projects include; a 3.6metre Whale carving and a 3.3metre Rhino! Watch this space!

I was actively involved in the community, volunteering as an art teacher at Starship Hospital from 2010 – 2018 while I lived in Auckland and enjoyed teaching my own carving workshops around the New Zealand. I have crafted some space for our family as I became a mum in January 2023 and I’m enjoying these young years before they fly by. Workshops will return slowly when space allows.

 

Profile images taken by the talented Petra Mingneau.

 

Exhibition History

 

Solo Exhibitions

2018 WILD – Allpress Gallery, AKL 
2017 WILD IN THE MAKING – endemicworld, AKL
2016 VIEW POINTendemicworld, AKL
2015 ARTIST AND THE WINEMAKER – Foxes Island, AKL
2015 PORTHOLES INTO NATURE – Allpress Gallery, AKL
2013 CURIOSITY CABINET – Allpress Gallery, AKL
2012 HERALDIK – Saatchi and Saatchi Gallery – AKL
2007 CARVING IT UP – Wine Country Gallery, HB
2006 GRAFF HEAD – Disrupt Gallery, AKL

 

Group Exhibitions

2020 SEEME SKATEBOARD ART PROJECT – CHCH
2019 CHCH POP UP – CHCH
2019 MADE IN NEW ZEALAND – London
2018 AUCKLAND GRAMMAR ART HOUSE TOUR – AKL

2018 100 ARTISTS – Allpress Gallery – AKL 
2017 WHAT I SEE – Grey, AKL 
2016 AUCKLAND GRAMMAR ART HOUSE TOUR – AKL
2016 VAUXHALL SCHOOL EXHIBITION – AKL
2015 TATTOOS AND TYPE – AKL
2015 KINGS COLLEGE ART FAIR – AKL
2015 BARADENE ART SHOW – AKL
2015 THE BIG EGG HUNT – NZ
2014 KIWIS IN LA – SANTA MONICA, LA
2014 WORLD WAR 100 – Uxbridge, AKL
2014 VAUXHALL SCHOOL EXHIBITION – AKL
2014 BARADENE ART SHOW – AKL
2014 AFFAIR OF THE HEART – AKL
2014 THE BIG EGG HUNT – NZ
2013 TARANAKI ART AWARD – Taranaki
2013 WAIHEKE ART AWARD – Waiheke
2013 PARKIN DRAWING AWARD – Wellington
2012 POP – PRINTS ON PAPER – AKL
2012 KOHIA TERRACE SCHOOL EXHIBITION – AKL
2011 CRACKER CHRISTMAS STOCKING STUFFER – CCHQ, AKL
2011 SPRING CLEAN – CCHQ, AKL
2011 KOHIA TERRACE SCHOOL EXHIBITION – AKL
2010 SIGNAL 8 – The Cat Street Gallery, Hong Kong
2010 SCRUTINY – Sanderson Gallery, Parnell
2010 EASTER RECOLLECTIONS – Uxbridge, AKL
2010 ALTER EGO – Wellington Fringe Festival
2010 ELEPHANT HILL ESTATE – Wine Country Gallery, HB
2009 WORLD OF WEARABLE ARTS – Finalist, Wellington
2008 BRADLEY GARLAND JENSEN – Wine Country Gallery, HB
2007 001 EXHIBITION – Sideroom.com Gallery, AKL
2007 PICTURE PERFECT – Sideroom.com Gallery, AKL
2005 ARTBEATZ ACTIVATE – Illicit HQ, AKL
2004 MAZDA EMERGING ARTIST – Hilton, AKL
2003 SUBLIMINAL VANDALISM 2# – AKL