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Brendon is an Engineer with 33 years experience in Architectural Sheetmetal - he's extremely skilled and very much the perfectionist so all our pieces are incredibly well made and built to last. Jane has a background in Resource & Environmental Management and comes from an extremely arty family so together we have found the perfect balance of creativity and technical metalwork skills.
The Grounded Art NZ business story started in Nelson, where our shared passion for gardening, the outdoors, and creativity led us to start making our own metal art pieces for our own large garden. One thing led to another - friends and neighbours wanted pieces, then strangers and eventually people from all over the country and around the world. More than 15 years later, Grounded Art NZ has become something we still love doing together and we are deeply proud of.
Grounded Art NZ Moves South
From Nelson to the Catlins - South Otago
We recently made the move south, and now call the majestic Catlins region of South Otago home, an extraordinary corner of New Zealand that inspires us every single day.
Much of what we design is drawn directly from the world around us. Jane's Ngai Tahu whakapapa is woven into many of our pieces; in the design names, the forms, and the way we think about the relationship between art and whenua (land). Our hunting, fishing, and tramping adventures through the New Zealand bush have also shaped what we make, bringing a distinctly kiwi character to each piece.
Our Materials
We work in three main materials: weathering Corten steel, which develops its signature rich rust patina over time; polished aluminium, which shimmers and catches the light; and hand-formed wire, which nestles softly into any garden setting.
Our work sits beautifully in gardens of every size and style, from bold architectural statements to quiet, understated pieces that feel as though they have always been there.
Any questions, or want to become a wholesaler? Please get in touch with Jane or Brendon. We'd love to hear from you.
Sustainability, Environmental Consciousness & Proudly NZ Made!
Reduce, Reuse & Recycle
Unfortunately there is still so much garden art on the market that are either cheap reproductions from the other side of the world or locally cut generic designs using internationally sourced cheap and inferior metals.
We are immensely proud that the range of metals that we use to make our garden art are ALL made here in NZ they ALL 100% recyclable as well - we are proudly part of a self-sustaining cycle and we aim for zero waste where ever possible too.
As well as our original spears and bulrushes that began us on this wild NZ art journey we have, over the past 15 years also developed efficient ways of utilising left over components from the cutting process to create limited edition and recycled garden art pieces. When we cut some of our steel designs we end up with surplus parts of all shapes and sizes as well as the desired finished product so by integrating the ‘waste’ into new designs we’ve been able to take inspiration to the next level.
Our Koi, Corten pods, Matika hooks, Kowhai pods, Miro, Toi wands, Toitiiti and Glide sculptures are some of the inspirational ways we have found of using these left over’s to make new and often ‘limited edition’ sculptures. All of our surplus metal is recycled but this approach to re-use as much as possible has been a creative solution to the recycling puzzle and a satisfying way of using our raw materials as efficiently and resourcefully as we can.
Perfectly Imperfect Packaging
We get a lot of comments from our customers about how much they love the way we wrap and send their garden art purchases around the country. Let’s face it there is really nothing quite as exciting as a perfect parcel!
We know that brand new and highly wasteful packaging is not necessary in order to achieve a perfect parcel. We have found many ways to make use of items often discarded by other businesses in our area. Every parcel is put together, taking the time & care and using recycled goodies such as:
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Locally sourced remnant paper from our neighbourhood newspaper printers
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Recycled cardboard sheets from the nearby windscreen repair shop
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Cardboard rolls from the inner rolls of carpet from our local flooring store
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Reused wooden boards made from the coversheets used in deliveries to a nearby building shop
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Recycled native timber from demolished buildings for our display blocks
Driven to Deliver
We personally deliver and coordinate deliveries to be undertaken together where ever possible in order to further reduce the carbon footprint created by the delivery process of our artwork.
Where we are unable to deliver our work personally and for all our interisland deliveries we engage Post Haste NZ to deliver our work for us. Post Haste recognise that sustainable business practices are fundamental to New Zealand’s future and they have embarked on an emission reduction programme and work with Toitū to ensure they utilise best practice when working to reduce carbon emissions throughout the country.
We are driven to make sure our creations do not only look great in the natural environment but feel great too. Our sustainable approach has been a simple, yet powerful step that we celebrate as a small, creative, NZ-made business here in Aotearoa.
