maui art is a visual poetry of nature expressed in paintings, prints and sculpture. From breathtaking beaches and awestriking sunsets to busy market scenes, it captures the beauty of Hawaii.
Prior to European contact, Hawaiians possessed a rich culture brimming with arts. Feather work, kapa (bark cloth), petroglyphs and wood or stone carvings were meticulously crafted and invested with spiritual power.
Fine Art
Maui’s natural beauty is a source of inspiration for a variety of art forms. From traditional to contemporary, the pristine beaches, lush greenery, and incomparable sunsets are captured by artists in breathtaking masterpieces that visitors, locals, and art collectors can enjoy forever.
A renowned painter and Maui resident, Sherri Reeve is best known for her impressionist landscapes of the Hawaiian islands. Reeve’s work is characterized by the expressive use of color and her ability to capture the essence of an image in a single brushstroke. She is also known for her evocative portraits of the Hawaiian people and for her unique style of depicting island life.
The gallery exhibits both traditional and contemporary works by leading artists in a range of genres, including painting, photography, glasswork, ceramics, and fine jewelry. The collection also includes an array of sculptures by internationally recognized sculptors Steve and Christine Turnbull, who welcome guests to view them at work in their studios and to relax in the gallery’s two acre sculpture garden.
MACC’s Schaefer International Gallery features a variety of local, national and international traveling exhibitions that explore important current ideas and issues; showcase new and innovative work; and present a broad view of places, people and cultures. The popular ArT=Mixx series, a fusion of performing and visual arts elaborating on themes presented in the gallery’s exhibits, will return in June with a program entitled INSTINCT.
Traditional Art
The beauty of Maui is reflected in the many forms of local art, with striking masterpieces that tourists, collectors and residents can enjoy. Whether the pristine beaches, awestriking sunrises or lush green forests are painted, printed, sculpted or photographed, their beauty is replicated in awe-inspiring art pieces.
Native Hawaiian artists present a wealth of traditional arts that honor ancestral ties and relationships. These ancient and contemporary works of art are channeled through ike, the knowledge gained from experience and guided by sound teachings.
Several of these indigenous Hawaiian craftspeople are well-known to Hawaii visitors for their beautiful work, such as Maile Andrade, Kaili Chun, Kapulani Landgraf and April Drexel in textiles, and Darrell Orwig, Nancy Skrimstad and Michael Takemoto in wood carving. But a number of artists have recently emerged with new bodies of work that explore a deeper level of engagement with ancestry and identity.
Among these is Lehuauakea Barclay, an interdisciplinary Kanaka Maoli artist and kapa maker from Papaikou. In the kailianoano – or community of artisans – that he leads, he and his students create kapa (bark cloth) of different colors imprinted with symbolic designs, and wood carvings reflecting spiritual beliefs and ancestral ties. They also participate in a wide range of cultural and historical events, including Aloha Moli, an annual festival that celebrates the diverse culture of indigenous Hawaiians.
Contemporary Art
Maui’s art scene is thriving, with dozens of galleries located in and around Lahaina. The Old Jail Gallery run by the non-profit Lahaina Arts Society is home to 185 member artists while Village Galleries showcases the work of many other renowned local artisans. Visiting these galleries is a must-do on any trip to Maui. The town’s annual Art Night on Front Street takes place each Friday between 7pm and 10pm to celebrate the vibrant art scene.
Michal Abramovitz’s paintings capture the essence of Hawaii’s tropical paradise and captivate the imaginations of viewers. Her unique artistic style combines technical skill with modern artistic vision to create paintings that stand apart from the rest. Her works are a fusion of bold brushstrokes and vivid colors that reflect the beauty of Hawaii’s natural splendor.
Other contemporary maui art galleries feature the work of artists who take risks with their mediums. For example, the East Hawaii Cultural Center in Hilo uses traditional and contemporary art to raise public awareness of issues such as homelessness. Meanwhile, the Schaefer Portrait Challenge is a triennial statewide juried exhibition that encourages artists to depict people in their island communities.
Also, the Bill Wyland Galleries on Front Street feature the work of painters who blend tradition and innovation to produce stunning landscapes. Andrew Showmaker spends years adventuring around the islands to photograph the stunning mountain vistas, roiling surf, and fiery sunsets of Maui.
Art Galleries
From the fog-shrouded peaks of Haleakala to the blue waves of Kaanapali Beach, Maui strikes a delicate balance between jungle wilderness and tropical getaway. It’s no wonder the archipelago is a magnet for artists and art lovers. Art galleries here pair natural and manmade splendor to produce memorable visual experiences.
The Schaefer Gallery features a wide selection of contemporary and traditional works by local artists. The Gallery also offers a large gift shop with hand-crafted goods by Maui artisans.
Featured in this exhibition are four established Native Hawaiian women artists (Maile Andrade, Kaili Chun, Kapulani Landgraf and April Drexel) exploring separate areas of interest with new bodies of work for this exhibit. These contemporary artists are creating a dialogue of ancestry, racial barriers and identity using various mediums of painting, sculpture, furniture and installation.
The Lahaina Arts Society houses 185 local member artists at their non-profit gallery located in the Old Lahaina Courthouse under the banyan tree. The gallery offers a range of prices from oil paintings to watercolors to ceramics and wood carvings.
The Village Galleries is a family-owned and operated gallery in Lahaina featuring works by renowned local artists as well as new up and coming talent. The Gallery hosts art events throughout the year, allowing visitors to meet the artists and see their pieces in person.
