Sylvia Lolita Cathrine Marsters (born 1962) is a New Zealand artist of Cook Islands descent. In 2003, she received a residency in the Cook Islands from Creative New Zealand, and she has exhibited in Rarotonga many times since, as well as in New Zealand, Fiji and New York.
Early life and family
Marsters was born in Auckland in 1962. Her father was from Aitutaki, and her parents had moved to New Zealand in 1952. She grew up in the Auckland suburb of Ōtara, and was educated at Auckland Seventh-day Adventist High School in Māngere Bridge. After leaving school, she worked as a machinist in a clothing factory, and attended evening art classes. She married Early Marsters, whose family came from Palmerston Island and Mangaia, and the couple established a sewing business based in their home, making casual and children's clothing incorporating Māori and Pasifika designs.
Art career
Marsters was encouraged to pursue art by one of her instructors, Lois McIvor, and she also helped her sister, a teacher, with art classes at her old school. She began exhibiting in about 1996, with the subject of her paintings being the flora, fauna, scenery and life in the Cook Islands, although she had never visited there.
In 2003, the Pacific Arts Committee of Creative New Zealand awarded Marsters the Cook Islands Artist's Residency. During her three-month residency in Rarotonga, Marsters met art dealer Ben Bergman, and developed a close relationship that eventually led to her 2014 solo exhibition at VOLTA NY, New York. Prior to VOLTA NY, Marsters was in a group exhibition, MANUIA, co-curated by Mahiriki Tangaroa and Ben Bergman in downtown New York City in 2010, exhibiting with artists Mike Tavioni, Michel Tuffery, Andy Leleisi’uao, Kay George, Jerome Shedden, and Mahikiri Tangaroa.
Following her residency in Rarotonga, Marsters returned and exhibited there many times, and a restrospective exhibition of her work, E Moemoea Naku 2, was held there in 2023. Her exhibitions draws big crowds in the Cook Islands.
Residencies
2003 – Cook Islands Artist's Residency by the Pacific Arts Committee of Creative New Zealand
Selected solo exhibitions
2023: E Moemoea Naku 2, Bergman Gallery, Rarotonga, Cook Islands
2022: E Moemoea Naku - A Dream of Mine, Bergman Gallery, Auckland, New Zealand
2014: The Ufological City of New York, BCA Gallery (now Bergman Gallery), VOLTA New York, New York, United States of America 2003: Te Ruperupe O Toku Ipukarea, Cook Islands National Museum, Rarotonga, Cook Islands
Selected group exhibitions
2023: Te Vaerua O Te Va'ine - Our Mother's Hands, Bergman Gallery, Auckland, New Zealand 2022: Te Atuitanga Beneath Our Cloak of Stars, Bergman Gallery, Auckland, New Zealand 2010: MANUIA, BCA Gallery (now Bergman Gallery), the American Indian Community House, New York, United States of America 2008: Cross-Currents, Matakana Gallery, Matakana, New Zealand 2007: Te Manea O Rarotonga, Reef Gallery, Auckland, New Zealand 2007: Pacific Rhythm, Waiheke Art Gallery, Auckland, New Zealand 2006: Frangipani Lush, The Edge/Aotea Centre, Auckland, New Zealand 1998: Paringa Ou, Cook Islands National Museum, Cook Islands 1998: Paringa Ou, Fiji Museum, Fiji 1998: Paringa Ou, Fisher Gallery, Auckland, New Zealand