Rick Allender - wood art

25/09/2025

03/09/2025

New work titled Taputeranga Now at
Taputeranga: Above and Below is an exhibition celebrating the vibrant life of the Taputeranga Marine Reserve on Wellington’s south coast on at Toi Pōneke Arts Centre from Saturday 16 August to Friday 12 September 2025. Artists Katy Cottrell and Rick Allender explore the connection between land and sea through intricate works crafted from natural wood veneers. Katy delves beneath the waves, illustrating native marine flora and fauna with a Victorian-era scientific flair. In contrast, Rick maps the reserve’s surface with bold, modernist marquetry inspired by its geography, human structures, and natural landmarks. Using a palette of earthy tones, burnt umber, mahogany, russet accented with vivid highlights, the artists merge traditional hand-cut techniques with laser-cut precision. Together, their work offers a rich, layered tribute to Aotearoa’s maritime heritage, te taiao, and the enduring relationship between rākau (wood) and te moana (the ocean).

02/08/2025

Durvillaea Antarctica for upcoming marquetry exhibition
Taputeranga: Above and Below - a collab with Katy Cottrell

30/07/2025

New work detail for upcoming collab show in August with Katy Cottrell .nz

19/07/2025