“Winning the 2024 Hyundai Emerging Artist Award was such an incredible moment. It gave me the confidence to take my practice seriously — to keep experimenting, keep growing, and keep creating.”
Meet Wilkie Proudfoot, a Wellington-based artist and emerging creative force in New Zealand’s visual arts scene. Currently studying Screen Arts, majoring in animation at Massey University, Wilkie’s passion lies in portraiture — bold, expressive, and full of energy.
His painterly style combines thick brushstrokes and vibrant colour to explore the complexity of human expression, drawing inspiration from artists like Malcolm T. Liepke, Gregory Manchess, and Shaun Tan. Each work captures a sense of immediacy — the feeling of being alive in the moment.
In preparation for the 2026 show, he’s developing a new body of work that builds on his love for portraiture while exploring fresh techniques and ideas. Each piece reflects a balance between discipline and discovery — a snapshot of an artist on the rise.
“I’ve always loved being creative. Painting has become my way of storytelling — capturing people, emotions, and moments through colour and movement.”
