About
My work is influenced by my Chinese heritage and the Western culture in which I was born and raised, exploring my navigation of a dual identity. Traditional forms embrace modern aesthetics reflecting the fusion of these two worlds.
Inspired by my commitment to yoga and meditation, my ceramic creations symbolise harmony and balance. Each piece is crafted with intention and care creating functional art pieces that serve as tools for enhancing meditative and mindful experiences.
Through my work, I invite viewers to experience a moment of reflection, bringing together the philosophy of Eastern practices with contemporary aesthetics.
Bio
Isla Ip Ferrer, an Aotearoa-born Chinese artist, embarked on her creative journey at Intermediate School when she joined the photography club. This early exploration ignited a lifelong passion that would weave through her experiences.
A pivotal moment in her artistic journey was the joy she found in experimenting with various camera settings and lenses. Through this exploration, Isla created impressionistic and abstract photographic images that mirrored the grace and artistry inherent in everyday life.
Captivated by the vibrancy and luminosity of soft pastels, Isla transitioned to this medium to capture the ethereal quality of her photographic images. Encouraged by her tutors, she delved into the realm of representational art, refining compositions to imbue her subjects with a duality of both realism and abstraction.
In 2021, Isla went through a phase of reassessing her artistic intentions. Today, Isla's works serve as a reflection on navigating the intersections of her Aotearoa and Chinese heritage. In her pursuit of artistic expression, she draws on colours and forms significant to both cultures, crafting a narrative that explores cultural hybridity, memory, and the profound impact of places and lived experiences on identity. As a second-generation individual, Isla's work stands as a testament to the interplay of diverse cultural influences, revealing the fragility and resilience inherent in the construction of one's identity.
Isla holds a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology and Education and a Master of Arts (Hons) in Sociology from the University of Auckland, New Zealand. She is currently working towards a PostGraduate Certificate in Fine Arts at Elam, University of Auckland.
Awards
2022 - Awarded Signature Member - Society of Animal Artists
2021 - TB Bank Award - 26th Annual Pastel Society of Eastern Canada ‘Les Pastellistes’ International Exhibition (“Eat, Sleep, Repeat”)
2021 - Awarded Distinguished Member - Pastel Artists of New Zealand
2021 - First Place Award - Pastel Society of Australia 2021 Annual Exhibition - People & Animals Category (“Romney Scarf”)
2021 - Art Institutes of Distinction Award - 49th Pastel Society of America Annual Exhibition ‘Enduring Brilliance’ (“Bee at Work”)
2021 - Third Place Award - Dakota Pastels 2021 Second Quarter Pastel Competition - Emerging Category (“Mesmer-eyes-ed”)
2021 - Honourable Mention - Light Space & Time 11th Annual ‘Animals’ Art Exhibition (“Dozing Puppies”)
2021 - Special Merit Award - Light Space & Time 11th Annual ‘Animals’ Art Exhibition (“Mesmer-eyes-ed”)
2021 - Third Place Terry Ludwig Award - Pastel Artists of New Zealand ‘Purely Pastel’ Online National Exhibition (“Dozing Puppies”)
2020 - Awarded Artist Member - Pastel Artists of New Zealand
2020 - Honourable Mention - Pastel 100 - Animal & Wildlife Category (“Milo III”)
2020 - Honourable Mention - Pastel 100 - Animal & Wildlife Category (“One of 27.5 Million”)
2020 - Honourable Mention - Richeson75 - Animals, Birds & Wildlife (“Mesmer-eyes-ed”)
2020 - First Place Award - Pastel Guild of Europe ‘Get Dusty’ Annual Open Competition - Animal Category (“Milo”)
2020 - Merit Award - Pastel Artists of New Zealand ‘Purely Pastel’ National Exhibition (“Wake Me Up For Meals”)
Exhibitions
2022 - International Association of Pastel Societies (IAPS) Juried Pastelworld Exhibition - 40th Open Division (New Mexico, United States)
2022 - Pastel Artists of New Zealand ‘Purely Pastel’ National Exhibition (Wellington, New Zealand)
2022 - Left Coast Pastel Painters Society ‘Pastels in Paradise’ Online International Exhibition
2021 - Pastel Society of Eastern Canada ‘Les Pastellistes’ Online International Exhibition
2021 - International Association of Pastel Societies (IAPS) Juried Webshow - 39th Open Division
2021 - Pastel Society of Australia Annual Exhibition
2021 - 49th Pastel Society of America Annual Exhibition ‘Enduring Brilliance’
2021 - 5th Annual Pastel Society of North Carolina ‘Pure Color’ International Online Exhibition
2021 - Society of Animal Artists ‘Art that Matters to the Planet’ (New York, New Jersey & Kansas, United States)
2021 - Society of Animal Artists ‘Animal Impressions’ (Arizona, United States)
2021 - ‘Pastel Pieces’ Exhibition (Auckland, New Zealand)
2021 - Pastel Artists of New Zealand ‘Purely Pastel’ Online National Exhibition
2020 - Richeson75 - Animals, Birds & Wildlife Online Exhibition
2020 - Pastel Artists of New Zealand ‘Purely Pastel’ National Exhibition (Dunedin, New Zealand)
2019 - ‘Passionate About Pastels’ Exhibition (Auckland, New Zealand)
Articles
2021 - Colored Pencil Magazine (June) - “Fabulous Fur”
Memberships
Signature Member of Pastel Society of America (PSA)
Distinguished Member of Pastel Artists of New Zealand (DPANZ)