Jon Tootill - Harakeke: Online Catalogue

Sanderson are pleased to present Harakeke by Jon Tootill - the artist’s latest exhibition marking his 75th year. With a bold meditation on the seasonal colours of Aotearoa, this new body of work continues the artist’s intimate exploration of his immediate environment; mapping the colours of native flora and fauna that live outside his Karaka home and studio.

The focus of the show is the Harakeke (New Zealand Flax), a recurring subject for the artist since 2020, whose graphic forms and vibrant palettes anchor the exhibition’s dialogue between landscape, lineage, and abstraction.

Rooted in his countryside life over the last 15 years, Tootill traces how changing seasons shape perception, colour, and form. His artworks celebrate Aotearoa’s flora and fauna that colour the landscape at different times of year, translating botanical observations into a painterly language.

Tootill’s Ngāi Tahu heritage and whakapapa are inherent in these works - the exhibition continuing the artist’s integration of cultural motifs into a contemporary visual language.

“The shapes reference traditional toi Māori work—raranga, whakairo, tukutuku—which I used to look at in the marae growing up. I interpret the colours and shapes within Tukutuku-inspired grids, but through a contemporary lens learned from years in commercial design studios.” – J. Tootill

Tootill worked as a designer and ad exec at Saatchi and Saatchi for many years. Fellow execs including Theo Schoon and Gordon Walters inspired Tootill to continue his painting practice alongside his commercial work. 

Through refined grids and graphic lines, the artist translates traditional ideas into modern forms that honour his whakapapa with his own distinct voice. The harakeke becomes both subject and structure, with its shapes and hues informing Tootill’s geometry.

While the works are deeply rooted in Karaka’s landscape, Tootill is poised to translate this legacy into new contexts as he will soon transition back to city life, bringing Harakeke and Kōwhai seeds into urban environments for future development.

Tootill’s works are held in numerous public and private collections in Aotearoa and worldwide including the collection of Auckland City Council, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the New Zealand Government art collection, reflecting a growing recognition of his commitment to place, memory, and form.

Art historian Michael Dunn notes:

‘By searching for his roots in his Māori heritage and view of the natural world in art and life [Tootill] has found a personal space full of feeling and visual meaning.’

*HARAKEKE VIII was recently selected for the National Contemporary Art Award, NZ, 2025 and will feature in this exhibition.