A new public artwork celebrating Matariki has been created in central Wellington through a collaboration between Dreamgirls Art Collective and jewellery brand Pandora.
The large-scale mural has been painted at the intersection of Ghuznee and Leeds Streets, in the heart of Wellington’s creative quarter.
Created by Dreamgirls artists Miriama Grace-Smith, Xoë Hall and Gina Kiel, the artwork explores themes of remembrance, connection, aspiration and renewal.
The mural depicts a modern wahine from Te Whanganui-a-Tara Wellington, surrounded by symbols inspired by the nine stars of the Matariki cluster.
The artists say the work is intended to reflect the role of storytelling in connecting people to culture, community and each other.
“Matariki is a time to pause, reflect on those who have come before us and think about the future we’re creating together. We wanted this artwork to celebrate those ideas in a way that feels hopeful, joyful and alive,” Miriama Grace-Smith said.
“Public art has the power to meet people where they are. To be able to share stories grounded in te ao Māori at this scale, in the heart of our own city, is incredibly meaningful. We hope people see themselves, their whānau and their aspirations reflected in the work.”
At the centre of the mural is a wahine representing connection, strength and possibility.
Around her are symbols drawn from the natural world, remembrance, abundance, waterways, dreams and the stars themselves.
The mural is part of a wider creative partnership between Dreamgirls Art Collective and Pandora, which has also produced a New Zealand-exclusive collection of nine charms inspired by the stars of Matariki.
Each charm represents one of the nine stars, translating elements of the artwork into wearable pieces.
Pandora ANZ marketing director Jess Donovan said the collaboration reflected a shared focus on creativity, storytelling and self-expression.
“The Dreamgirls trio has created something incredibly special, a body of work that honours stories deeply connected to Aotearoa while speaking to universal themes of identity, connection and hope,” she said.
“We’re proud to partner with artists who use their platform to inspire and empower others and are honoured to help bring their vision to life through both public art and jewellery.”
The partnership is Pandora’s first New Zealand artist collaboration of its kind.
The mural, in-store experiences and limited-time charm collection are being used to invite people to connect with the stories and values represented by Matariki.
Dreamgirls Art Collective is made up of Miriama Grace-Smith, Xoë Hall and Gina Kiel. The trio are known for bold contemporary works across street, gallery and digital spaces, with a focus on colour, texture and storytelling.
