Dr Sandy Adsett has had a hugely successful national and international career asan artist and educator.  He is a memberof the New Zealand Order of Merit 2005 and was conferred an Honorary Doctorateby Massey University 2014.  He receivedTe Tohu o Te Papa Tongarewa Rongomaraeroa award in the 2018, a prestigious TeWaka Toi Award. In 2020 he was named an Icon – Whakamanawa Hiranga, of the ArtsFoundation of New Zealand 2020, an honour limited to 20 living NewZealanders.  Sandy served as a member ofTe Waka Toi, CNZ for many years and was instrumental in fostering links withindigenous artists through exhibitions, residencies and workshops. He was Chairof the contemporary art group, Te Atinga, in the Toi Māori collective. He hasbeen a Toi Iho Trustee since 2010.

Hewas educated at Raupunga School and Te Aute College and was mentored by NgātiPorou Master Carver Pine Taiapa [1901-1972] to become a Māori specialist ArtAdvisor to schools.  He co-founded Te Toihoukura School of Māori Art andDesign in Gisborne in the mid-1990s and initiated another cultural learningcentre, Toi Mairangi School of Visual Culture, Te Wānanga o Aotearoa, Hastingsin 2003 and in 2022 he retired to focus on his work as a professionalpracticing artist.  

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