Massey’s got talent (2012)

Name: Gigi Baddeley

Age: 21

Degree: Creative Media Production

Place of Origin: Christchurch

“Wait, you're not going to quote me specifically, right?” Yes, Gigi that is exactly what I am gonna do. Gigi Baddeley is an up-and-coming student artist who is constantly inspired by urban life in Aotearoa, and her experiences as a young artist. Gigi eloquently describes her mahi as “colourful with lots of eyeballs”. Her vibrant work stems from the sketchbook she carries around everywhere. “My bag is the perfect shape for my sketchbook. I always have my Posca pens, Copic markers and Tombows on hand. I only have a set number of colours so I know them like the back of my hand. I’ve learnt colour pallets really thoroughly - this has helped me create art on the fly as I make my way through Wellington.” While her degree is pushing her to the digital side of art, drawing is what she enjoys doing the most. “Drawing is meditative for me, maybe even therapeutic. I love letting my hand find the paper and do whatever it wants.” Gigi’s work is inspired by Allen Cromby, Min Kim and Kelly Focara. “They all are strong and don't give a fuck about mistakes, and I quite like that.”

Check out Gigi’s work @geegebee

Name: Sarah Saint-Pere

Age: 19

Degree: Communications

Place of Origin: Malaysia

“Homely, comforting, nostalgic. That’s how I’ve heard people describing my work. I find it hard to describe it myself, but I like to see it as perceived naivety, or even childlike, and that's fun to me.” Sarah, or @stuffbysae is a 19-year-old student who has recently found success with her colourful range of printed creations. You’ll find Sarah showcasing her art at Massey Market days throughout the year. “My main medium is guoache. This is like the love child between acrylic and watercolour. I’ve drawn my inspiration from various illustrators - Furrylittlepeach, Alice Brisland and Feihuasanqian, to name a few.” While Sarah came to university to pursue a degree in Communications, she is starting to see a path to commercialise and grow her creative brand. “Art has always been a hobby, not my main hustle. But, being in Wellington around all this creativity, alongside seeing my work take off, has made me rethink a possible career in the arts.”

Check out Sarah’s work at @stuffbysae