Kia ora, i’m Gabriel Hailtree.
My pronouns are they/them.
I am a multi-disciplinary artist from Aotearoa (New Zealand), currently based in Tāmaki Makaurau (Auckland).
I was born in Te Whanganui-a-Tara (Wellington) in the mid 1990’s, but spent my teenage years in Te Matau-a-Māui (Hawkes Bay).
After leaving high school I spent the next seven years travelling Aotearoa. Moving every 4-6 months as I couldn’t decide which region I loved the most.
I wanted to see everything, all at once.
Moving this frequently gave me access to a wide spectrum of live music, and I have been fortunate enough to photograph everything from international bands in big cities - to the local small town pub band on a friday night. Through music photography I developed a knack for double exposures, and love editing my work to really bring out the energy that I feel while watching live music.
I have been photographing live music for over a decade now, for a long time it was the only way I knew how to use my camera. During the 2020 lockdown, I started to delve into abstract photography, and began twisting out symmetry in the natural elements of my garden in Te Whanganui-a-Tara.
I quickly booked a one way ticket back to the Te Pātaka-o-Rākaihautū (Banks Peninsula), eager to be surrounded by nature, and develop a style of art outside of music photography.
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In 2024 I am bringing in a focus of natural elements to my work. I love gardening, and am currently exploring the arts and crafts that can be gathered from my own backyard.