Leanne Aroha Mulder

Leanne Aroha Mulder is a contemporary landscape artist whose work draws deeply from memory, emotion, and the quiet resonance of the natural world. Her paintings, often layered in misty light, grounding tones, and traces of movement, evoke a felt connection to land and a gentle sense of belonging.

Leanne’s practice is rooted in her connection to Aotearoa — from childhood adventures exploring remote beaches and hilltops in the South Island, to her current life split between the coastlines of Northland and Auckland. Her heritage, upbringing, and deep respect for whenua shape her abstract interpretations of landscape. Working primarily in acrylics, ink, and mixed media, Leanne builds pieces with subtle topographical markings and tonal shifts that reference both physical and emotional journeys.

Her process is intuitive and contemplative — a quiet conversation between memory and motion, brush and board. She describes painting as a form of stillness and reclamation: a way to pause, breathe, and remember.

In 2025, Leanne was selected as a finalist in the prestigious National Contemporary Art Award, judged blind by esteemed curator Nigel Borell. Her work will be exhibited in this national show from August to November. 

Leanne’s work continues to explore themes of light, land, and the unseen rhythms that shape us. Her paintings are held in private collections across Aotearoa and beyond, offering moments of reflection and connection — artworks that breathe, remember, and quietly hold space.