Gilly Sheffield

Gilly is an artist who is based in both Auckland and Wanaka. She travels the country on the lookout for weathered corrugate which has a story to tell.

For Gilly these corrugated crosses represent the interwoven and intertwined nature of whānau and culture. She uses the iconic iron that has protected so many New Zealand families and weaves on it to showcase the skills that have been passed down from generation to generation in the myriad of cultures that populate Aotearoa. No matter what our native tongue is, Gilly believes the universal language of weaving will be understood.

The shape of the cross itself represents the great Southern Cross and celebrates its importance in how our ancestors found their way here, and how we in the present choose to navigate the lives we lead.