Fred Graham

Frederick John Graham (1 September 1928 – 9 May 2025) was a New Zealand artist and educator recognised as a pioneer in the contemporary Māori art movement. In 2018, Graham was the recipient of an Icon Award from the Arts Foundation of New Zealand, limited to 20 living art-makers. In December 2024, he was appointed a Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit, for services to Māori art.

Biography Graham was born on 1 September 1928 in Arapuni in South Waikato. He was affiliated with the Māori iwi Ngāti Korokī Kahukura and Tainui. He trained as a teacher at Dunedin Teacher's Training College and Ardmore Teachers' Training College and specialised in art in his third year. He taught art at schools and in the 1950s he worked as an arts advisor to Māori primary schools in Rotorua and Te Tai Tokerau. One of his students was Nigel Brown, who went on to become a well known New Zealand artist. Graham was also a keen rugby player when he was younger and was briefly in the Māori All Blacks rugby team (he played three games with them). He had a studio in Waiuku where he lived with his wife Norma.

His son Brett Graham is also a sculptor, known for works such as Manu Tāwhiowhio: Bird Satellite (1996).

Career Graham is known for his contemporary Māori art sculptures that reflect current themes and draw on Māori traditions. He worked alongside other Māori artists such as Ralph Hotere, Cliff Whiting, and Paratene Matchitt from the late 1950s in founding a contemporary Māori arts movement.

Graham's work has been exhibited and sold to collectors with both New Zealand and international interest. formerly the wall of the Alpha Motor Inn in Palmerston North (sold to the city in 2017)

Honours and awards In 2017, Graham was awarded Te Tohu mō Te Arikinui Dame Te Atairangikaahu, the exemplary/supreme award at the Te Waka Toi awards.