dark haze 01 Painting

Claudia Grutke is an experimental abstract mixed media artist based in Raglan, New Zealand. Drawing deeply from the elemental forces of nature, her work is inspired by the rhythm of the ocean, shifting sky, the movement of wind and the subtle interplay of light and shade found in the garden. Working mainly with acrylics, graphite and crayon - sometimes incorporating recycled materials on canvas or board - Claudia builds layered compositions that echo natural atmosphere and organic forms. Her process is intuitive and responsive; guided by sound, movement and the physical sensation of place. Sweeping gestures and textured surfaces suggest tidal currents, drifting clouds and windswept terrain while delicate linear elements reference the intricate shapes discovered in everyday natural surroundings. Rather than depicting nature directly, Claudia translates the energy. Her paintings evoke the feeling of standing before the sea or watching light shift across the land - immersive, meditative and alive with movement. Claudia is the winner of the Artist of the Year competition 2014 by Chroma Australia. Claudia held a solo exhibition at Frankton Gallery, Hamilton; (2019) and a solo exhibition at KAH Gallery, Wellington (2021) She has participated in group exhibitions in Bologna (2015; 2016), in Milan (2016), her work was on show at the NZ Art Show in Wellington (2016, 2017 ; 2018) and in group exhibitions in Madrid (October 2016), Wellington (December 2016,2019,2023) and Hamilton ( May 2017, 2019,2021,2022,2025) as well as Raglan(2017,2018, 2019, 2020,2021,2023,2024, 2025). Claudia continues to explore the dialogue between material, memory and environment from her studio in Raglan, where the coastal landscape remains a constant source of inspiration.