Kāi Tahu, Ngāpuhi, Ngāti Kahu

Piri Cowie primarily works as a sculptor, her works include artistic expressions in paint, bronze, rākai, fabric design and more recently glass. Her artworks have been exhibited nationally and internationally.

Piri has completed several public art commissions for Te Rūnanga ō Ngāi Tahu, honouring tuna (eels). Her steel sculpture “Kirihao – Resilience” is situated at the Pita Te Hori Centre, Ōtautahi, Christchurch. She also created seven bronze eels for “Te Hononga,” the Christchurch Civic building. From 2014 to 2015, Piri completed integrated art designs at Tākaro ā Poi, Margaret Mahy Family Park, Christchurch. In 2014, thanks to the generous support from Creative New Zealand, Piri was able to participate in the Artists in Residence – Vallauris, France. Piri also returned to Paris, France, with support from Creative New Zealand in September 2015 to be mentored by Marian Fountain in the creation of bronze medals.

Piri has developed her art practice through attending International Indigenous Visual Artist Gatherings in New Zealand and the United States. In 2019, Piri was invited to engage in the International Hot Shop Visiting Artist Residency at the Museum of Glass, Tacoma, Washington. Her glass artwork, Nga Tuna Heke – Migrating Eels, is now part of the Permanent Collection of the Museum of Glass, Tacoma, Washington, United States.