About

MISFIT MAKER STUDIO  - Workshops and Art Classes in Ascot Vale

ABOUT AMANDA

Amanda A'Hara is an artist who works across a range of mediums including photography, textiles and painting. 

Since 2001 Amanda has worked as a registered teacher, teaching art and design in private and public high schools in Auckland, NZ. 

After graduating from Auckland University with a MFA (hons) in 2005 Amanda also ran public workshops teaching photoshop, photography, design and illustration skills at University Summer School as well as private workshops for groups and individuals. 

Along with teaching art Amanda works as a freelance designer, illustrator, and mural artist working on graphic design projects and brand design for small companies, label design, privately commissioned murals and book illustration.

Amanda’s artwork and photography has been widely exhibited and published.  She has work in art collections in NZ and Australia and has been a finalist in the NZ Contemporary Art Awards.

Amanda has created many public art projects with her collaborative project called The Friendly Girls Society.  www.thefriendlygirlssociety.net 

Amanda is now based in Moonee Ponds, Melbourne, Australia. Amanda loves her local area and likes to contribute to public art whenever she can. 

misfitmakerstudio@gmail.com

MISFIT MAKER STUDIO

Amanda founded Misfit Maker Studio because she loves helping young people to develop their creativity and become confident young artists.

Amanda helps children and teenagers to develop their skills in drawing, painting and textiles and sculpture.  She loves helping her students to create their own personal works of art that they can be proud of, like stenciling a skateboard deck to put on display in their room.  Amanda’s students appreciate that she is aware of, and skilled in, the popular art styles of today, such as manga/anime. 

Amanda also runs popular monthly sketch and sip classes for adults looking to develop drawing and painting skills in a friendly, meditative atmosphere. 

Amanda is a registered teacher in Victoria, Australia.

EXHIBITION HISTORY

• A Space Between - Archipelago Group show curated for Auckland City Council by Ioana Gordon Smith. 7-29 September 2012 at Kumeu Arts Centre, Auckland.

• Moto X  - June 2011 - Papakura Art Gallery. A tandem show with Alex Monteith. Curated by Tracey Williams.

• No Rules, Objectspace, Auckland. Group Exhibition of contemporary artists working with needlework, curated by Rosemary McLeod. Nov-Dec 2008 also exhibited selected embroidery works at Satellite Gallery April 2009.

• Empty Spaces, The Digital Darkroom Gallery, Auckland. Exhibited in and curated this group show - September 2008.

• Home Sweet Heart, Artstation, Auckland. Group Show – November 2007

• Trust Waikato National Contemporary Art Award 2007 – finalist, August – November 2007

• Funky Razors, Te Tuhi and St Paul St Gallery, Auckland. This exhibition explores the production in different cultural areas as fashion, music, tattoo, design, photography and video. - May 2007 (group show)

• Moto X, solo show, Papakura Art Gallery, Auckland – February/March 2006

• Finalist in NZ National Painting and Printmaking Awards, Waikato - 2006

• Canary Gallery Wallace Award Exhibition, Canary Gallery, Auckland - 2005 (group show)

• Photo 05, Papakura Art Gallery, Auckland - 2005 (group show)

• Things We Don’t Say, Lane Gallery, Auckland - 2005 (curated group show)

• Eden Arts Window Works Project, Mt Eden, Auckland - 2005

• We Both Must Fade, at George Fraser Gallery, University of Auckland - 2003

TELEVISION AND PUBLICATIONS

• 2008-2009 Summer – Empty Spaces Reviewed in ArtNZ Number 129.

• 2008 October – MoMento Photoforum NZ Members Magazine.

• 2007 December - Canary Annual '07, Friendly Girls Society, Tea and Sympathy performance referenced in Which Craft? by James Robertson.

• 2007 Winter – AA Magazine, featured Birdhouse as part of the editorial on gestures of kindness.

• 2007 February – Artist Alliance magazine, article featured about Birdhouse, by the Friendly Girls Society.

• 2007 March - NZ Home and Entertaining magazine, featured examples of my embroidery work.

• 2007 January – Photograph published in Rip It Up magazine.

• 2006 January – With Tracey Williams appeared as the Friendly Girls Society, in The Living Room arts programme (series III) by Sticky Pictures.

• 2005 May – Nightline TV3 arts feature: Things We Don’t Say.

• 2003 April - Photograph published in Pavement magazine.

• 2003 February - Photographs published in Rip It Up magazine.