Artist lands moon shot

The Pukekohe High School’s Erika Villejo has launched onto Auckland’s student art scene.

Her work was among 34 pieces handpicked for the Pat Hanly Creativity Awards exhibition, showcasing students’ responses to environmental themes.

Along with work by three other locals – Megan Smith (also from Pukekohe High School), Aaliyah Jack-Midgley (Papakura High School) and Nomeneta Harema (Rosehill College) – the 17-year-old’s painting is on display at Auckland Art Gallery until September 13.

“A lot of thinking and effort went into the piece, so I’m very grateful and relieved that I was picked,” she says.

Villejo’s work also made the cut last year. Now, in her final year of school and serving as the head student of arts and culture, she says inspiration for her new work came from NASA’s Artemis programme.

Comments about seeing Earth from space struck a chord with Villejo – you could even Photo supplied say their message had some gravity.

“My piece was inspired by the Artemis crew – they did a rotation around the moon and the female astronaut, Christina Koch, was the only woman on the four-man team,” she explains.

“She said that when you’re up in space you don’t see any political lines or borders and I thought that was a very important message, especially in our political climate right now.”

Villejo’s painting brings together a mosaic of images to form one singular figure, reflecting her belief that the people and experiences around us shape who we are.

“I think that who I am now and who I will be [in future] is a complete combination of everyone I’ve ever known.”

The exhibition has also provided a chance to put Pukekohe High School in the spotlight, or perhaps in this case, the starlight.

“I feel like being able to represent my school, especially in the arts, has been an amazing opportunity,” she adds.

With another piece hanging in Auckland Art Gallery, Villejo will soon head to university.

Wherever the future takes her from there, it’s likely she will keep the arts in her orbit.