Aaron Te Rangiao is a graduate of the Masters of Maori Visual Arts program, headed by Professor Robert Jahnke at Massey University, Palmerston North. Like Nigel, he excels in stone- carving and is an all round sculptor & artist/ designer. Ruaputahanga is a bronze scupture that is now a feature of Taranaki ASB stadium in New Plymouth. Te Rangiao employs multiple references to the wood-carving tradition in his contemporary sculptures by echoing forms found in traditional taonga. His re-introduction of these forms using modern materials is part of a dialogue created by artists leading Maori art out of the fringe of New Zealand art & the archival tombs of our Museums, (which has been happening for at least a decade) largely instigated by the MMVA program & prominent artists such as Jahnke, Cotton (ex-lecturer of Jahnke's visual arts program), Brett Graham, Michael Parekowhai, Lisa Reihana & many others.
Te Rangiao is proficient in his knowledge of surface-carving designs as visual language- a facet that allows him to freely move between contemporary art & design & the creation of traditional taonga. His work is compelling & arresting. Aaron has received a number of commissions for kohatu (headstones) as well as for large public art works.