Rhonda Halliday
Ceramics & PotterySculpture
Far North, Northland
Rhonda Halliday is a ceramic artist based in Waipapa, where she runs Uku Toi Gallery and Studio where she also shares her private art collection encourging people to start their own. She holds a Bachelor of Applied Arts (Visual Arts) from NorthTec Whangārei, earned in 2000.
Rhonda was privileged to be mentored by the late Colleen Waata Urlich and Manos Nathan, co-founders of Ngā Kaihanga Uku and the Tai Tokerau Māori Artists Collective; an influence that continues to shape her creative practice.
Her work has been exhibited both nationally and internationally, and she has actively participated in numerous Toi Ngāpuhi exhibitions and indigenous cultural exchanges. Best known for her highly burnished, smoke-fired patina pieces symbolising rebirth and emergence, Rhonda’s practice continues to evolve. More recently, she has begun experimenting with new forms and techniques, including the integration of clay with mixed media. These explorations reflect her personal narratives and aim to spark conversation and awareness; particularly around environmental issues and the vital importance of water.