Rosanne Morley is an artist based in Tāmaki Makaurau and a recent graduate of Auckland University of Technology. Her practice explores the gentle tension between nature and imagination, using whimsy as a conceptual framework through which the familiar becomes playfully unfamiliar.

The artist’s work draws upon biophilic impulses, nostalgic associations, and morphological ambivalence, encouraging viewers to negotiate shifting interpretations as they move around each piece. Texture, surface, colour, and silhouette operate as emotional cues, teasing recognition, offering moments of lightness, curiosity, or quiet reflection.

Morley’s practice is driven by a fascination with the tactile exploration of materials and the creative possibilities that arise from their manipulation. She embraces a diverse range of techniques and mediums, allowing each piece to take on a unique form that is not bound by a singular aesthetic. This variety is central to her work, as it reflects the belief that art thrives in experimentation and in the unconstrained use of materials.

At the core of her practice is a belief in the emotional resonance and sensory potential of sculpture - that an object can offer solace, uplift, or a brief relief from the weight of the everyday. It is through this approach that Morley creates artworks that are thoughtful and quietly transformative.

Morely was the recent recipient of the Aries Award for Outstanding Sculpture - awarded to a final year sculpture student undertaking a Bachelor of Visual Arts at Auckland University of Technology.