Lauren Kitts’ sculpture practice spans more than 45 years. She began carving in 1980 while living briefly in California and went on to complete a Bachelor of Arts at UC Santa Cruz in 1985. That same year she moved permanently to New Zealand, where she has continued her practice through symposia and exhibitions across the country.

Lauren describes carving as a process that allows her to confront uncertainty and become fully immersed in change. She is fascinated by how the inner form creates the outer form, how everything is interconnected, and how sculpture enables her to express ideas in ways that words cannot.

She now runs her own gallery in Tasman, near Nelson—an outdoor sculpture garden with a smaller indoor space for domestic-scale works. Alongside her career as a sculptor, she also raised two daughters, whose inspiration continues to shape her life and art.