Lyonel Grant | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1957 (age 68–69) Rotorua, New Zealand |
| Education | New Zealand Māori Arts and Crafts Institute, Rotorua |
| Known for | Carving, sculpture |
| Awards | Arts Foundation of New Zealand, Laureate Award 2009. |
Lyonel Grant (born 1957) is a New Zealand Māori master carver and sculptor.
During the 1970s, Grant learnt under master carver Hōne Taiapa at the New Zealand Māori Arts and Crafts Institute in Rotorua.[1] In 2009 Grant received an honorary Doctorate of Philosophy (Education) from Unitec Institute of Technology. The same year he also received an Arts Foundation of New Zealand Laureate Award.[2]
Between 1985 and 1987 Grant completed his first whare whakairo (carved house, meeting house), Te Matapihi o te Rangi at Te Papa o te Aroha Marae in Tokoroa.[3] His second whare whakairo was Ihenga at Tangatarua Marae, on the Waiariki Institute of Technology campus in Rotorua. Ihenga was completed between 1993 and 1996. In 2007 Grant co-authored Ihenga: Te Haerenga Hou, The Evolution of Māori Carving in the 20th Century with Damian Skinner.[1] In 2009 Grant completed Ngākau Māhaki at Te Noho Kotahitanga Marae on the Unitec Institute of Technology Mt Albert campus.[4]
Born in Rotorua, Grant affiliates to Ngāti Pikiao and Te Arawa.[2] Grant identifies as Māori Indian.[5]
Grant has exhibited both internationally and nationally. His work is held in the collections of The British Museum and The Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa.[6][7][8]