ABOUT
Behind the work
Painting became a place where I could quiet the noise.
What began as something deeply personal has grown into a practice centred around connection, emotion and the freedom to create without needing everything to be perfect.
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The journey so far
I’m Stephanie Harlan, an artist based in Tauranga, New Zealand.
I came to painting through a need to create, but somewhere along the way it became much more than that. Painting gave me a place to slow down, process what I was feeling and find stillness when my mind was anything but still.
I’ve never been interested in making everything perfect. I’m much more interested in what happens when I let go of the outcome and trust what unfolds. That freedom has shaped not only the way I paint, but the artist I’ve become.
The coast is where I return when I need that same sense of quiet. There is something about open space, the rhythm of the water and sand beneath my feet that brings me back to myself. That connection inevitably finds its way into my work.
What began quietly at home has grown into an exhibiting art practice, with my work now finding its way into exhibitions, galleries and private collections across New Zealand.
In 2026, Where Time Settles was selected as one of four finalists for the ASAA Gold Award at The Auckland Art Show, where it went on to place runner-up. Ten of my works found new homes during the show, including one purchased by an award judge.
I continue to exhibit throughout New Zealand, with my work evolving alongside me. Each collection is different, but the thread running through it remains the same: texture, movement, emotion and the marks that life leaves behind.