Ngāti Porou, Te Whānau ā Ruataupare
Baye Riddell is a founding figure and senior leader of Ngā Kaihanga Uku, the Māori clay workers movement.
A full-time potter since 1974, Baye is masterful at manipulating clay and has consistently explored vessel forms and figurative sculptures that express his whakapapa and taha Māori. He prefers locally harvested uku and wood-firing techniques, avoiding glazes and surface treatments that mask the natural materials and processes used. While Baye often makes series of works on a specific theme and, more recently, large-scale sculptural installations, his practice is fundamentally concerned with whenua in all of its meanings.
Today, Baye’s work is widely appreciated for its originality, authenticity and sculptural finesse. He has exhibited widely throughout Aotearoa and internationally, actively engages in an international fraternity of indigenous clay workers, and continues to share his knowledge in tertiary institutions, community organisations, marae and artist studios. Most recently, Baye was the principal author of the definitive history, Ngā Kaihanga Uku: Māori Clay Artists (2023), published by Te Papa Press with support from Toi Māori Aotearoa.
featured ArtWork
Mauri Pot
by Baye Riddell
Ngāti Porou, Te Whānau ā Ruataupare
Baye Riddell is a founding figure and senior leader of Ngā Kaihanga Uku, the Māori clay workers movement.
A full-time potter since 1974, Baye is masterful at manipulating clay and has consistently explored vessel forms and figurative sculptures that express his whakapapa and taha Māori. He prefers locally harvested uku and wood-firing techniques, avoiding glazes and surface treatments that mask the natural materials and processes used. While Baye often makes series of works on a specific theme and, more recently, large-scale sculptural installations, his practice is fundamentally concerned with whenua in all of its meanings.
Today, Baye’s work is widely appreciated for its originality, authenticity and sculptural finesse. He has exhibited widely throughout Aotearoa and internationally, actively engages in an international fraternity of indigenous clay workers, and continues to share his knowledge in tertiary institutions, community organisations, marae and artist studios. Most recently, Baye was the principal author of the definitive history, Ngā Kaihanga Uku: Māori Clay Artists (2023), published by Te Papa Press with support from Toi Māori Aotearoa.
featured ArtWork
Mauri Pot
by Baye Riddell