Israel Randell

A multi-disciplinary artist of Cook Island (Rarotonga) and Māori (Tainui, Ngāti Kahungunu) descent

Israel Randell

“Randell works with light and its adversary – dark. Her sculptural light forms create a space where one can experience Matauranga Māori (knowledge)”

— Cora-Allen Wickliffe, Curator, Moana Legacy

An artist creating spatial activations where one can experience Matauranga Māori.

Israel Randell is a multi-disciplinary artist of Cook Island (Rarotonga) and Māori (Tainui, Ngāti Kahungunu) descent, who explores the notions of innovation as tradition through installations, performances and spatial activations.

‘Art After Hours: F’Rock Da Base’ with the Pacific Sisters, 2019, Photo by Art History Society AKL

‘ia tu’uatu, ia fa’amalolo, ia tupu, 2019, Photo by Shawnee Tekii Nipadua: The Human Tree by Janina Nana Yaa, 2020, Photo by Nicole Semitara Hunt

Still from ‘ia teu, ia alofa, ia puipui, ina tasi, 2019, Film by Hōhua Kurene

Israel’s work often activates dormant spaces within urban landscapes as a way to expose communities to new ways of thinking. Her practice is underpinned by cosmological theories of space and the parallels found in her Pasifika and Māori culture. 

Born in the Waikato region, Israel attended Hungry Creek Art School in Tāmaki Makaurau before moving to Toi Moana (Bay of Plenty) with her young family. Most recently, she was the Supreme Award winner at the 2020 Tauranga Art Gallery, Miles Art Awards

Israel Randell explains the concept behind her mahi and how it encourages the viewer to look into their past

Video by NoSix.

“There is no shortage of inspiration in Aotearoa…being surrounded by it is quite a fertile space for me.”

- Israel Randell