Description
Muriwai Memories
Kylie Rusk’s Muriwai Memories captures the scale and atmosphere of Auckland’s west coast, looking south from the northern end of Muriwai Beach. Layers of textured brushwork and soft washes of acrylic paint create a scene that feels both familiar and timeless—one shaped by repeated walks, changing light, and the quiet rhythm of the tide.
Muriwai is a place Kylie returns to often. Living nearby, she’s spent years observing its dramatic black sand, steep cliffs, and sweeping coastline. Rather than painting a single moment, Muriwai Memories is built from a combination of memory, field sketches, and photographs. The result is a landscape that reflects the essence of the place—formed through process, not precision.
The ocean is painted in tonal blues and teals, with long horizontal brushstrokes suggesting space and calm. Flecks of white pick up the gentle pull of surf across sand. Cliffs built up in soft greys, greens, and ochres stand against a sky that shifts from muted grey to warm white, hinting at changing weather or the last light of day.
“Muriwai is such a powerful, ever-changing place,” Kylie says. “There’s a rawness to the coastline, but also a kind of peace. I’ve walked it so many times, and every time it looks slightly different. That’s what I wanted to capture—the familiarity and the shift.”
This coastline also holds deep cultural significance. Muriwai sits within the rohe of Te Kawerau ā Maki, the local iwi whose connection to the land dates back centuries. The area’s cliffs, forest, and ocean provided vital resources and continue to carry spiritual and historical meaning.
Finished with a protective UV coating, Muriwai Memories is a quiet reflection on a place shaped by light, movement, memory—and a deep connection to land and sea.
Details
600mm x 600mm painting of ‘Muriwai Memories’.
Acrylic on board with a UV protectant coat.
