Fayne Robinson


Charles Eldon Fayne Robinson is a New Zealand Māori artist specialising in carving. Robinson has contributed to the carving of buildings on many marae in New Zealand as well as exhibiting his art in galleries and museums.

Biography

Robinson was born in 1964 and grew up in the South Island town of Hokitika on the West Coast of New Zealand. His iwi are Kāti Māmoe, Kai Tahu, Ngāti Apa Ki Te Rā Tō and Ngāti Porou. Robinson trained in Māori carving at the New Zealand Māori Arts and Crafts Institute, Rotorua and graduated in 1984, He was just 17 when he got accepted, and was one of only four from Ngāi Tahu who have attended. He was influenced to pursue Māori art from meeting the head weaver from the New Zealand Māori Arts and Crafts Institute, Emily Schuster, when he was younger.
Robinson has carved on meeting houses and at marae, including Te Tauraka Waka a Māui Marae in Bruce Bay, completed in 2005, and Arahura Marae near Hokitika, completed in 2013. The New Zealand national museum Te Papa Tongarewa owns three of his works in their collections.

Works and exhibitions

Wharenui as master carver