Wi Taepa is a leading figure in contemporary Māori art, known for his groundbreaking work in clay. Originally trained as a carver, he shifted to uku (clay) in the 1980s and has played a major role in embedding the medium within mātauranga Māori. He prefers to handbuild his works, creating forms that are deeply connected to whenua and wairua.

Taepa is a founding member of Ngā Kaihanga Uku, the national collective of Māori clay artists established in 1986. Through this kaupapa, he helped position uku as a vital Māori art form and has exhibited nationally and internationally, including at Te Papa Tongarewa, City Gallery Wellington, Spirit Wrestler Gallery in Vancouver, and the National Gallery of Zimbabwe. His major retrospective Wi Taepa: Retrospect toured from Pataka Art + Museum to Auckland Art Gallery.

His practice is grounded in community and intergenerational knowledge sharing. Alongside his exhibitions, Taepa has contributed to public artworks and marae, while also mentoring younger artists through formal teaching roles and collective wānanga. His work continues to influence the evolution of contemporary Māori visual arts

‍