Tanja McMillan

Tanja Jade McMillan (born Tanja Jade Thompson, also Tanja Jade, and Misery; 1982) is a graffiti artist and painter of Tahitian and Chinese descent best known as Misery, based in Auckland, New Zealand.

Art career McMillan was born in Maryborough, Australia. She started painting as Misery in 1997 at Auckland Metropolitan College, where she became friends with fellow student Elliot O'Donnell, best known as Askew, who given McMillan the name Misery. by ceremonially auctioning off the last of the Misery works at Webb's auction house in Auckland.

There are two bronze sculptures named Twist and Thief by McMillan on Karangahape Road, commissioned by Auckland Council to be part of Auckland Council Art Collection in collaboration with John Oz. McMillan have collaborated with many well known designers and brands, such as New Balance, Blunt, Bitra, Casio Baby-G, Telecom, Serato and Piaggio.

McMillan has been shown extensively in New Zealand and internationally such as Berlin, Taiwan, Melbourne, Paris, Hawaii and Los Angeles.

Selected solo exhibitions

2025: Forbidden Fruits, Bergman Gallery, Auckland, New Zealand 2024: All Tomorrow's Parties, Outré Gallery, Fitzroy, Australia 2023: Happy Valley, Outré Gallery, Fitzroy, Australia 2021: Fountain of Flowers, 12 Gallery, Auckland, New Zealand 2021: Tang Tang, Outré Gallery, Fitzroy, Australia 2013: Misery: Momo, Ponsonby Central, Auckland, New Zealand 2011: Momoka, Backwoods Gallery, Collingwood, Australia 2010: Misery: Deceased Estate Auction, City Works Depot, Auckland, New Zealand 2009: Misery: The Heart of Misery, Plaything Gallery, Auckland, New Zealand 2008: Misery: Holly Melancholy & The Night That Saved The Day, Webbs, Auckland, New Zealand 2007: Misery: Mighty Monster Masquerade, St Kevin’s Arcade, New Zealand

Selected group exhibitions

2025: Dreamland Awaits, Corey Helford Gallery, Los Angeles, California, United States 2025: Aotearoa Art Fair, Bergman Gallery, Viaduct Events Centre, Auckland, New Zealand 2024: Belonging, Stories of Contemporary New Zealand Asian Artists, Bergman Gallery, Auckland, New Zealand 2024: Aotearoa Art Fair, Bergman Gallery, Viaduct Events Centre, Auckland, New Zealand 2023: Horizon, Bergman Gallery, Auckland, New Zealand 2023: A Place to Call Home - Contemporary New Zealand Asian Art, Bergman Gallery, Auckland, New Zealand 2023: Vanguard, Outré Gallery, Fitzroy Australia 2022: Bunch, North Art Gallery, Auckland, New Zealand 2021: The Most Dedicated: An Aotearoa Graffiti Story, Dowse Art Museum, Wellington, New Zealand 2021: Group Exhibition, Outré Gallery, Fitzroy Australia 2020: Yokai! Yokai!, Outré Gallery, Melbourne Australia 2015: The Self-Drawing Hand (La Main qui dessinait toute seule), Danysz Gallery, Paris, France 2012: DabsMyla and Friends, Think Space Gallery, New York, United States