About
Tess Sheerin (Ngāti Raukawa) is a multidisciplinary artist from Aotearoa, New Zealand whose work merges visual storytelling with environmental and social activism. Rooted in a deep respect for the land and its taonga (treasures), her practice educates, provokes and inspires action on urgent issues such as pollution awareness, wellbeing and wildlife conservation.
Following the Christchurch earthquakes, Tess was among the first artists to create large-scale murals that breathed new life into her hometown of Ōtautahi. Her distinctive black-and-white imagery, punctuated by expressive bursts of colour, stands as a bold visual language of resilience and regeneration. Her work was featured in The Art of Recovery, Peter Young’s award-winning documentary, and Time Walks, hosted by Tony Robinson (a.k.a. Blackadder).
An avid experimentalist, Tess brings a dynamic energy which evolves during the restricted time-frame for her murals. Incorporating performative methods such as paint-bombing, paint-pouring, rag rendering, gesso release and fire-extinguisher techniques. During this intense period of artistic development, she completed her Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) at the University of Canterbury.
Beyond murals, Tess' wildlife renderings reflect a profound respect for the natural world. Her sculptural works often emerge from found materials. Plastic straw waste, discarded doors and rubble are transformed into poignant works of art. One of her most notable series, ‘Sea School’, created in Cornwall, England using broken, recycled surfboards, was exhibited alongside works by Banksy, Blek le Rat, Swoon, Faile, Shepard Fairey and Herakut at Belgraves Gallery’s annual Urban Art exhibition 2011. The series went on to tour the UK and was collected internationally.
In 2015, Tess co-founded ‘New Zealand’s Worth Loving', a three-year pollution awareness mural tour aimed at spotlighting freshwater degradation and its impact on native species. Auckland's ‘Clampfish’ mural, stirred local controversy but ultimately garnered public support in a national poll. Each mural became a platform for environmental education, community clean-ups, and partnerships with groups such as Sustainable Coastlines, Our Seas Our Future, Gap Filler, and Keep New Zealand Beautiful. The project was recognised with the Canon Oceania Inspiring Tomorrow Award in 2017.
Isolation and uncertainty are part of an artist's job description and when the Covid-19 pandemic hit Tess discovered how her own journey could relate to the wider community.
‘Rejuvenate’ was created in 2022. Painted in recognition of The Key to Life Charitable Trust, the mural aims to inspire empathy and erase the stigma surrounding mental health issues. These messages are portrayed through the inspiration of Aotearoa’s unique taonga wildlife. "Noah the Moa" is asking for reconnection, growth and gratitude. "Karma Kiwi" requests love and kindness and "Balance Bee" requires balance and nutrition.
Connecting with nature is a proven way to improve our mental health; wellbeing of the environment and our own wellbeing are intertwined. Ka ora te whenua, ka ora te tangata; When the land is well, we are well.
Tess continues to explore sculpture, exhibiting work with Tai Tapu Sculpture Garden in 2025, an outdoor contemporary art space committed to showcasing innovative New Zealand artists. With the help of skilled collaborators and a mix of mechanical and digital processes, the sculpture ‘Earth’ evolved into something beautifully unexpected.
Most recently she also gained international recognition through her selection for a prestigious art residency in Southern Spain with Joya: arte + ecología, an interdisciplinary program focused on ecological thinking and contemporary art. This immersive experience allowed her to continue the development of the ‘Elemental’ series, deepening her connection to sustainability and expanding the international dialogue within her practice.
