Jasmine Keir has enjoyed a 25-year career as a full-time artist across a variety of mediums, participating in art events and exhibiting in galleries throughout New Zealand. More recently her attention has turned towards working with copper. Jasmine’s knowledge of manipulating this media has been self-taught, informed by pattern and design elements and the guidance obtained from studying the great ‘masters’ of art. Using a wide array of natural ingredients, and a touch of alchemy, Jasmine creates copper works that reveal a myriad of colours, finishes and patinas, often enhanced with embellishments such as tacks, copper strips, and all manner of objects the ‘magpie’ in Jasmine has collected over time. The nature of this intentional experimentation means that no piece Jasmine produces is the same, each is a completely unique contemporary artwork.

“As I travel it has generated a genuine interest and love for my surroundings. Through the delivery of using beautifully changeable copper I am able to express my interest of our connection and growth in relation to our natural environment and the connection between man and his impact…or lack of impact, the lapsing of time forming historical changes in habitats and behaviour. I marvel at the magnificent space, light and clarity that Aotearoa offers us. I marvel also at the details in the smallest of pebbles in the darkest of corners. I can’t help but pause to observe minute patterns that hide wrapped in the cloak of large wide-open spaces. I delight to spend a while wondering where the folklore people live… I find this an easy pleasure to transfer to my art pieces.” – Jasmine Keir