Shannon Te Ao

Name
Shannon Te Ao
Iwi/Ethnicity
Ngāti Tūwharetoa/Māori
Ngāti Wairangi/Māori
Te Pāpaka-o-Māui/Māori
Date of birth
1978
Place of birth
Sydney/New South Wales/Australia
Gender
Male
Biography
Shannon Te Ao was born and raised in Sydney, Australia. In 2009, he graduated with a Bachelor of Fine Arts (Honours), completing a Diploma in Teaching the following year.

Te Ao’s works traverse the mediums of live performance, writing, videoed performance and video. Whakataukī (proverbs), waiata (song) and poetry have become resources for Te Ao in his ongoing exploration of language, ways of knowing and the nuances of communication.

Te Ao won the Walters Prize in 2016. Since then, he has completed a Master of Fine Arts from Whiti o Rehua School of Art, Massey University, and continues to exhibit nationally and internationally.