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Heather Straka

b. 1972

  • Biography
  • Overview of Works
  • Selected Press
  • Exhibitions
  • Channel
  • Biography
  • Overview of Works
  • Selected Press
  • Exhibitions
  • Play

Heather Straka’s deep explorations into perceptions of socio-political and cultural lives have created a significant body of compelling and controversial work in painting and photography. Always prescient, the wittily observant Straka surfs the cultural pulse of contentious matters, deftly questioning tradition, challenging the politically correct, and subverting stereotypes.

Her Maori Chiefs series of adjusted portraits by Victorian artists, adorned with religious, political and cross-cultural references, caused some outrage in New Zealand. Straka engages with such debate as a meaningful part of her practice. Her Asian Girl series slyly referenced western perceptions of art, authenticity and authorship as she commissioned 51 replicas of her own painting from Chinese artisans working in the Dafen Oil Painting Village in the Longgang District of Shenzhen, China. Straka’s Burqa series confounds stereotypical readings of particular cultural practices: Western notions of women oppressed by the material layering concealing their being are complicated by the sexuality and freedom of the tattooed body revealed below the direct and sensual gaze.

Studying sculpture at the University of Auckland’s Elam School of Fine Arts in the early 90s, Straka honed an acute attention to detail that she later carried through to her painting practice, a shift made while working as Julia Morison’s assistant in France. Scarcity of sculptural materials and proximity to the great paintings of Europe informed the refocus of her practice. Straka returned to New Zealand and exhibited her first painting show in 1998, later graduating with an MFA in Film from Canterbury School of Fine Arts in 2000.

Since the turn of the century Straka has been awarded several scholarships and residencies. In 2002 she was presented the Pierce Lowe Award for Excellence in Painting from the Royal Overseas League, London; she was awarded New Zealand’s esteemed Frances Hodgkins Fellowship in 2008; and in 2011 was awarded the William Hodges Fellowship. Her exhibition history spans decades and her work is held in all of New Zealand’s major public collections.

Straka lives and works in Auckland, New Zealand.

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  • Betty Txt
    Betty Txt, 2009/2015

    C-type print

    1060 x 780 mm (framed)

    Betty Txt
    Betty Txt, 2009/2015

    C-type print

    1060 x 780 mm (framed)

  • Street Parade 2
    Street Parade 2, 2016

    oil on canvas

    605 x 505 mm (framed)

    Street Parade 2
    Street Parade 2, 2016

    oil on canvas

    605 x 505 mm (framed)

  • The Clean Up
    The Clean Up, 2006

    Oil on cotton board

    420 x 640 mm

    The Clean Up
    The Clean Up, 2006

    Oil on cotton board

    420 x 640 mm

  • X Marks the Spot 17
    X Marks the Spot 17, 2016

    oil on canvas

    605 x 505 mm (framed)

    X Marks the Spot 17
    X Marks the Spot 17, 2016

    oil on canvas

    605 x 505 mm (framed)

  • The Anatomy Lesson Txt
    The Anatomy Lesson Txt, 2009/2015

    C-type print

    1320 x 1850 mm (framed)

    The Anatomy Lesson Txt
    The Anatomy Lesson Txt, 2009/2015

    C-type print

    1320 x 1850 mm (framed)

  • Hui Love
    Hui Love, 2013

    Oil on cotton board 

    800 x 1000 mm

    Hui Love
    Hui Love, 2013

    Oil on cotton board 

    800 x 1000 mm

  • The Asian Installation
    The Asian Installation, 2011

    Dunedin Public Art Gallery, New Zealand

    The Asian Installation
    The Asian Installation, 2011

    Dunedin Public Art Gallery, New Zealand

  • Somebodies Eyes 1
    Somebodies Eyes 1, 2015

    Oil on cotton on board

    860 x 710 mm (framed)

    Somebodies Eyes 1
    Somebodies Eyes 1, 2015

    Oil on cotton on board

    860 x 710 mm (framed)

  • Cargo Girl
    Cargo Girl, 2011

    Oil on cotton board

    800 x 1000 mm

    Cargo Girl
    Cargo Girl, 2011

    Oil on cotton board

    800 x 1000 mm

  • The Asian
    The Asian, 2009

    Oil on canvas

    51 paintings + 1 poster

    Installation view, Trish Clark Gallery, 2015

    The Asian
    The Asian, 2009

    Oil on canvas

    51 paintings + 1 poster

    Installation view, Trish Clark Gallery, 2015

  • Burqababe 1
    Burqababe 1, 2012

    Oil on cotton board

    1100 x 800 mm 

    Burqababe 1
    Burqababe 1, 2012

    Oil on cotton board

    1100 x 800 mm 

  • Kia Ora
    Kia Ora, 2010

    Oil on cotton board

    800 x 1000 mm

    Kia Ora
    Kia Ora, 2010

    Oil on cotton board

    800 x 1000 mm

  • Honey Trap 23
    Honey Trap 23, 2015

    Oil on cotton on board

    680 x 560 mm (framed)

    Honey Trap 23
    Honey Trap 23, 2015

    Oil on cotton on board

    680 x 560 mm (framed)

  • Somebodies Eyes 16
    Somebodies Eyes 16, 2015

    Oil on cotton on board

    860 x 710 mm (framed)

    Somebodies Eyes 16
    Somebodies Eyes 16, 2015

    Oil on cotton on board

    860 x 710 mm (framed)

  • The Gate Keeper
    The Gate Keeper, 2006

    Oil on cotton board

    800 x 1000 mm

    The Gate Keeper
    The Gate Keeper, 2006

    Oil on cotton board

    800 x 1000 mm

  • Reverence — Canonized China
    Reverence — Canonized China, 2003

    Oil on cotton board

    550 x 1200 mm

    Reverence — Canonized China
    Reverence — Canonized China, 2003

    Oil on cotton board

    550 x 1200 mm

  • Sombodies Eyes 1-21
    Sombodies Eyes 1-21, 2015

    Oil on cotton on board, Installation view. 

    860 x 710 mm each (framed)

    Sombodies Eyes 1-21
    Sombodies Eyes 1-21, 2015

    Oil on cotton on board, Installation view. 

    860 x 710 mm each (framed)

  • Honey Trap 17
    Honey Trap 17, 2015

    Oil on cotton on board

    680 x 560 mm (framed)

    Honey Trap 17
    Honey Trap 17, 2015

    Oil on cotton on board

    680 x 560 mm (framed)

  • Somebodies Eyes 6
    Somebodies Eyes 6, 2015

    Oil on cotton on board

    860 x 710 mm

    Somebodies Eyes 6
    Somebodies Eyes 6, 2015

    Oil on cotton on board

    860 x 710 mm

  • Chanel
    Chanel, 2010/2015

    Oil on cotton on board

    900 x 700 mm (framed)

    Chanel
    Chanel, 2010/2015

    Oil on cotton on board

    900 x 700 mm (framed)

  • Bugger
    Bugger, 2014

    Oil on cotton board

    475 x 575 mm

    Bugger
    Bugger, 2014

    Oil on cotton board

    475 x 575 mm

  • Tiki Biki
    Tiki Biki, 2007

    Oil on cotton board

    800 x 1000 mm

    Tiki Biki
    Tiki Biki, 2007

    Oil on cotton board

    800 x 1000 mm

  • The Penguins Saw
    The Penguins Saw, 2010

    Oil on cotton board

    340 x 550 mm

    The Penguins Saw
    The Penguins Saw, 2010

    Oil on cotton board

    340 x 550 mm

  • Repeat after me … Amanda
    Repeat after me … Amanda, 2008

    Oil on cotton board

    800 x 1000 m

    Repeat after me … Amanda
    Repeat after me … Amanda, 2008

    Oil on cotton board

    800 x 1000 m

  • Another Clean Up
    Another Clean Up, 2014

    Oil on cotton board

    475 x 575 mm (framed)

    Another Clean Up
    Another Clean Up, 2014

    Oil on cotton board

    475 x 575 mm (framed)

  • Faith
    Faith, 2013

    Oil on cotton board

    1120 x 820 mm

    Faith
    Faith, 2013

    Oil on cotton board

    1120 x 820 mm

  • Burqababe 3
    Burqababe 3, 2012

    Oil on cotton board

    820 x 1120 mm

    Burqababe 3
    Burqababe 3, 2012

    Oil on cotton board

    820 x 1120 mm

  • Sebastian Martyr Ware
    Sebastian Martyr Ware, 2003

    Oil on cotton board

    550 x 1200 mm

    Sebastian Martyr Ware
    Sebastian Martyr Ware, 2003

    Oil on cotton board

    550 x 1200 mm

  • Love
    Love, 2006

    Oil on cotton board

    750 x 950 mm

    Love
    Love, 2006

    Oil on cotton board

    750 x 950 mm

  • Fan
    Fan, 2006

    Oil on board

    450 x 600 mm

    Fan
    Fan, 2006

    Oil on board

    450 x 600 mm

  • Burqababe 2
    Burqababe 2, 2012

    Oil on cotton board

    820 x 1120 mm

    Burqababe 2
    Burqababe 2, 2012

    Oil on cotton board

    820 x 1120 mm

  • Virgin of Seven Sorrows
    Virgin of Seven Sorrows, 2007

    Oil on cotton board

    800 x 1000 mm

    Virgin of Seven Sorrows
    Virgin of Seven Sorrows, 2007

    Oil on cotton board

    800 x 1000 mm

  • Straka Satire
    Straka Satire

    Eyecontact, review by John Hurrell

    4 December 2019

     

    View article online


  • Andrew Paul Wood on Heather Straka's photographs
    Andrew Paul Wood on Heather Straka's photographs

    EyeContact, article by Andrew Paul Wood

    29 March 2010

     

    View article online


  • In search of the ‘hyper fake’
    In search of the ‘hyper fake’

    Art News New Zealand, article by Heather Straka

    Spring 2009


    Download PDF
  • The Sleeping Room
    The Sleeping Room

    Exhibition Catalogue, Hocken Gallery, Dunedin, New Zealand

    April – May 2009


    Download PDF
  • Heather Straka
    Heather Straka

    Beloved – Works from the Dunedin Public Art Gallery, 1990 - 2008

    2009


    Download PDF
  • Exhibitions Christchurch – Heather Straka, Belinda Harrow, and Dean Venrooy
    Exhibitions Christchurch – Heather Straka, Belinda Harrow, and Dean Venrooy

    Art New Zealand 115, article by Gina Irish

    Winter 2005

     

    View article online


  • Trish Clark Store

    Shop smaller scale works

  • Heather Straka: The Asian

    Heather reveals to RNZ the complexities of authenticity and reproduction involved in her 51-part exhibition ‘The Asian’ at Dunedin Public Gallery

    April, 2010


    Listen online →
  • HEATHER STRAKA | …another dissection
    November 1 — December 21, 2019
    HEATHER STRAKA | …another dissection

    Solo exhibition

    View details →
  • HEATHER STRAKA | The Strangers' Room
    May 2 — June 3, 2017
    HEATHER STRAKA | The Strangers' Room

    Solo exhibition

    View details →
  • HEATHER STRAKA | Somebodies Eyes
    April 1 — May 15, 2015
    HEATHER STRAKA | Somebodies Eyes

    Solo exhibition

    View details →
  • THE XX FACTOR
    September 27 — October 29, 2016
    THE XX FACTOR

    Marina Abramović | Pilar Albarricín | Alexis Hunter | Julia Morison | Carolee Schneemann | Patti Smith | Marie Shannon | Ann Shelton | Heather Straka | Christine Webster

    View details →
  • Dec 13 — Jan 28, 2016
    "taking stock"

    Stephen Bambury / Ann Shelton / Phil Dadson / Anthony McCall / Kazu Nakagawa / Galia Amsel / Chris-Corson Scott / John Edgar / Marie Shannon / Vincent Ward / Heather Straka / Jennifer French

    View details →

 

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T +64 9 360 0840

142 GT NTH RD, GREY LYNN,
AUCKLAND 1021, NEW ZEALAND

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