Rika Nagahata

“Kākāpō in a Kimono” Annual 3

I was born in Japan but have been living in New Zealand since 2008. While in Japan, I graduated from Osaka Art University, majoring in printmaking. My time at university, experimenting with different copper-plate printing techniques, has greatly influenced my art today.

Although I now use ink and watercolours to create originals instead of prints, my patterns and fine lines reflect the intricate process of etching. This unique connection gives my works a special feel and presence that enables the viewer to get entranced and lost in the art. 

​The numerous unique and beautiful animals New Zealand has to offer also have a big influence on my art. So do various children’s book illustrators and traditional Japanese art.