For Humanity – A Textile Art Exhibition by Shayne Baron

Part of F.A.M. Karangahape Road & Auckland Art Week | The Hemp Store, 253 Karangahape Road | Opening Saturday 4 October | Runs until Friday 17 October

Auckland, NZ — The Hemp Store on Karangahape Road is proud to present For Humanity, a solo exhibition by textile artist and raranga weaver Shayne Baron. This powerful showcase of Māori-inspired korowai (feathered cloaks) made from hemp and harakeke (New Zealand flax) is a celebration of creativity, resilience, and indigenous artistry.

The exhibition opens as part of October’s F.A.M. event—a monthly celebration of Fashion, Art, and Music along Karangahape Road—and is also featured in Auckland Art Week, the city’s annual festival of contemporary art.

After a two-year hiatus due to vision loss and blindness in one eye, Shayne Baron returned to weaving following cataract surgery in late 2024. For Humanity marks a creative rebirth, with each piece woven as an act of healing and resistance. The works are organic, intuitive, and deeply rooted in Māori tradition, guided by Shayne’s kaiako Trina Taurua (Whanganui).

“I’ve been weaving for 12 years,” says Baron. “In a world full of destruction, we can only salivate in creativity.”

Visitors can expect a vibrant and tactile experience, with korowai that speak to whakapapa, identity, and the enduring power of indigenous textile art. The exhibition includes wearable pieces, wall hangings, and contemporary interpretations of traditional forms.

Exhibition Details: The Hemp Store, 253 Karangahape Road, Auckland | Saturday 4 October – Friday 17 October ? Opening Day coincides with F.A.M. festivities, 10am–2pm