About
Tūī Diprose (Tangata Tiriti) is a queer, multi-disciplinary artist of Aotearoa New Zealand. Tūī’s creative practice centres in Jewellery Art, drawing upon their work as an intuitive herbalist and holistic health practitioner. They have exhibited nationally and internationally, and have been in the mentorship program HANDSHAKE8.
Tūī’s creative practice explores Te Taiao or the natural world, ritual, talisman, dreamwork and installation. Tūī channels their art through the dreamscape, listening to its intuitive, unpredictable rhythm, finding inspiration in land, sky and waters.
They work ritualistically with a wide array of materials, allowing each material to speak in artistic conversation, revealing the materials nature and origins through the making.
Tūī approaches bodywork with deep reverence, tending to each person holistically. Their massages are therapeutic, grounding, intuitive and restorative. Tūī’s massage treatments focus on healing the nervous system through promoting states of deep restfulness, while relieving patterns of pain and tension within the body.
Their bodywork rituals flow as dual rivers, connecting embodiment-arts with plant-arts, intertwining the unlearning of stress and pain within the body, supported by the natural world from native plant remedies and healing, essential oil therapies and holistic herbalism.
Tūī received a Bachelor in Visual Art from Otago Polytechnic (2019-2020) after completing a Diploma in Jewellery from Hungry Creek School of Art and Craft (2014-2017). Tūī creates talismanic jewellery art within ritual for healing on personal and collective levels.
They have deepened their creative practice through completing a two year mentorship program, Handshake8, mentored by Estela Saez-Vilanova.
Tūī studied Holistic Massage Therapy with Nicky O'Connor, Aromatherapy with Annie Prince, and Yoga Therapy with Dr Pooja Maddela and Dr Sridhar Maddela, at Wellpark College of Natural Therapies between 2010-2012.
They studied Rongoā Māori at Te Wānanga o Aotearoa in 2019 with Emaraina Mihaere and Potikai Schaumelle, deepening their studies in 2022 with Awhitia Mihaere, which includes native plant herbalism and spirituality.
Tūī has a Diploma of Herbal Medicine (2025-2026) after completing a shamanic herbalism apprenticeship with Amy McComb in Aotearoa, New Zealand, deepening their work with native and wild plants as our healing allies.
Tūī creates holistic spaces centred around nurture, self-care, embodiment and empowerment; they are passionate about earth-based, community driven, nourishing practices to remember our wholeness.
“All beings are part of a deeply interconnected ecosystem; not separate from each other, but are extensions of and kin to the earth itself.”
Exhibitions
2025
Rituals. Solo Show at RM Gallery. Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland, Aoteaora New Zealand.
Nelson Jewellery Week. Whenua of Ngāti Koata, Ngāti Toa Rangatira, Ngāti Rārua, Te Ātiawa, Ngāti Tama ki Te Waipounamu, Ngāti Kuia, Ngāti Apa ki te Rā Tō, Rangitāne o Wairau:
LickyLicky, a queer collective of artists. Nelson City Framers, Whakatū Nelson, Aoteaora New Zealand.
Materialise: Handshake8. The Refinery, Whakatū Nelson, Aoteaora New Zealand.
2024
BODIES OF WATER. Materialise: HANDSHAKE8. The Arts House Trust, Pah Homestead, Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland, Aoteaora New Zealand.
Allsorts: Radiant Pavilion International Contemporary Jewellery Biennale. Kindred Cameras Gallery. Land of Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung and Bunurong Boon Wurrung Peoples of the Eastern Kulin. Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
2023
Proof of Concept: HANDSHAKE8. Depot Artspace, Ngāti Whātua iwi land, Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland, Aoteaora New Zealand.
2021
Kauri and Tohorā: Indigenous Healing for Anthropocene Grief. Studio One Toi Tū, Ngāti Whātua-o-Ōrākei iwi land:
2020
Clink Project 7: Viral. Dowse Museum, Te Atiawa iwi land: Te Whanganui-a-Tara Wellington: Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland, Aoteaora New Zealand.
Creating with Kauri. Kauri Museum, Te Uri o Hau of Ngāti Whātua land: Matakohe, Aoteaora New Zealand.
Anthropocene Grief: Indigenous Healing Methodologies. SITE Graduate Show, Otago Polytechnic Dunedin School of Art, Ngāi Tahu iwi land: Ōtepoti Dunedin, Aoteaora New Zealand.
2019
Clink Project 6 @ Radiant Pavilion International Contemporary Jewellery Biennale. Percy Grainger Museum. Land of Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung and Bunurong Boon Wurrung Peoples of the Eastern Kulin. Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
2018
Grandmother’s Healing Shrooms. Private Collection, Te Ātiawa and Ngāti Rārua iwi land: Motueka Valley, Te Wai o Pounamu, Aotearoa New Zealand.
2017
Situate. Hungry Creek Art and Craft School Graduate Show, Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland, Aoteaora New Zealand.
2017
Artweek. NorthArt, Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland, Aoteaora New Zealand.
2016
Hungry Creek Art and Craft School Graduate Show, Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland, Aoteaora New Zealand.
2015
Hungry Creek Art and Craft School Graduate Show
Red Queen. Private Collection. Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland
Solace and Shadow. Private Collection. Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland, Aoteaora New Zealand.