Lisa Schimdt
Lisa is a Multi Media Visual Artist born1969 in Otautahi while being raised as a tamariki between Otautahi and Little Akaloa Banks Peninsula.
Lisa enjoys exploring themes relating to our connection to Ranginui and Papatuanuku, identity, historic traditions, customs and practices within the Artistic realm, especially focussing on indigenous tribes from around the World.
Inspired primarily by flora, fauna and our connection to nature, wildlife and our Whenua.
Ancestry, Music and Poetry are also being a strong influence.
Interested in Fine Art, Art Nouveau and Indigenous culture artforms. Learning to express herself through Art and creating started well before any kind of formal education as a young tamariki, while her formal education has solely centred around pursuing Art as a subject, she currently still pursues an ongoing endeavour to learn more. Pursuing knowledge in Weaving, Pottery, Sculpture, Etching, Painting, Drawing and Illustration.
She has also completed courses in Leadlight, Silversmith and Bookbinding. Receiving an award for her Business idea focussed on Prescribing Art for Mental Health.
Learning to express herself through Art and creating started well before any kind of formal education as a young tamariki, while her formal education has solely centred around pursuing Art as a subject, she currently still pursues an ongoing endeavour to learn more. Pursuing knowledge in Weaving, Pottery, Sculpture, Etching, Painting, Drawing and Illustration.
She has also completed courses in Leadlight, Silversmith and Bookbinding. Receiving an award for her Business idea focussed on Prescribing Art for Mental Health.
Graduating with Honours from CHEC in Coffs Harbour NSW, she obtained her Diploma of Visual Arts, exhibiting Artwork in Coffs Harbour, Macksville, Sculpture in the Goal in South West Rocks NSW Australia. Exhibitions were based on Sculpture, focussed on Emotional Baggage.
Lisa’s Whanau, Whakapapa from Chorlton and Little Akaloa, Banks Peninsula on her Mother’s side (maiden name Craw) with predominately Scottish lineage, descendants of the first Whalers.
Her Father, originally from Samoa with German Ancestry being descended from Wilhelm Karl Hendrich Schwalger.
Growing up in a sole parent home, her Mother being a fiercely independent Wahine who raised 5 children while working 3 jobs, still found the time to encourage and nurture Lisa’s artistic side by passing on her own creative knowledge; as well as providing a home full of laughter, music and Aroha.
Being the youngest of 5, her siblings playing a pivotal role in her upbringing led to being surrounded by a household full of extended Whanau and friends who were all unique creative individuals, providing a diverse and eclectic environment to develop in.
Fortunate also to spend a lot of time on her Aunty and Uncles farm in Little Akaloa, she spent days learning a multitude of crafts and skills, while developing her strong connection with animals and nature.
In adulthood Lisa has lived on the West Coast and Rotorua as well spent over 25 years living in Australia, subsequently she is a dual citizen of Aotearoa and Australia. Living in Northern Territory, Western Australia, N.S.W, Queensland and Victoria provided opportunities to travel and experience a different way of life, also the opportunity to travel to China and Hong Kong.
Working in a wide range of employment from a Postie, an experienced machinist that once made Levis, being a carer for the Disabled, School Bus Driver, making Flounder and Tuna nets for fishing Te Waihora, plus many more jobs in between she is grateful to now be able to pursue her journey and dream of becoming a full time Artist in the future.
Lisa is currently enjoying delving into the World of Printmaking.