Introducing: Aaron McTaggart
IG: @urbanmaoriart
FB: Urban Maori Art
Talent: Contemporary Māori Artist/ Māori-Polynesian influenced flow design.
Give us a rundown of your creative talent/trade?
Contemporary Māori Artist/ Māori-Polynesian influenced flow design.
What do you love most about it?
I enjoy taking traditional Māori art and introducing it to contemporary times. Allowing our people to adopt the beauty and fluidity of our ancestor's patterns and shapes.
How would you describe your fashion style?
My fashion style could be best described as hip hop influenced oversized urban apparel.
Have you had a career highlight and what would it be?
I’ve been fortunate enough to have quite a few highlights in my artistic career. I’ve sold art for the last 15 years and have many pieces hanging in many houses in Australia and New Zealand. It’s always a massive buzz when a stranger wants to hang your artwork in their home. Truly humbling!!!
Is there a particular place or person that inspires you in life?
I’m always inspired and heavily influenced by my people. The Māori... For such a small culture, I believe, we have made a substantial impact on the world. Māori people have made their mark in sporting arenas and have also steadily contributed in other fields. Many Māori artists have laid a fantastic platform of which I have been lucky to benefit.
Best podcast listen for 2019.
My favourite Podcast I listen to is The Joe Rogan Experience. For the uninitiated, Joe Rogan is a layman that has some of the most amazing guests on his show.
He carefully extracts the best information from his high profile guests and breaks down everything for his listeners.
Best piece of advice you have ever had?
‘It’s better to sit quiet and let people assume you’re an idiot, than to open your mouth and confirm you are!!!’