About

Samiu Napa’a is a painter trained in photo realistic portrait painting under New Zealand painter Martin Ball.

His work has fluctuated between portraiture and multi-layered conceptual landscapes and folk-style narrative works about the struggles of Tongan people living in New Zealand and those remaining in Tonga.
His works feature in private and public collections throughout New Zealand. Napa’a works full-time as a hairstylist.

From Fresh Gallery Otara 2008 catalogue

Samiu Napa’a was born in Tonga, hailing from the village of in Fua’amotu, Tongatapu.

Napa’a migrated to New Zealand with his mother in 1998. Cross-crediting from Tupou College to Sir Edmund Hillary College in Otara, South Auckland, he went on to attend Whitecliffe School of Art & Design and later Manukau School of Visual Arts.

Whilst completing only three years of the four year Bachelor of Visual Arts degree programme, Napa’a has continued to develop his painting, undertaking commissions and exhibiting in joint and group exhibitions.

Napa’a lives in Manukau City and works as a full-time hairstylist.

View Samiu’s Painting Portfolio

Read his Tautai Contemporary Pacific Arts Trust profile HERE

View photos from his 2007 exhibition, Maka Tu’u Taha with Kulimoe’anga Maka: MAKA TU’U TAHA