Avara Moody (they/she/ia) is a takatāpui designer practising in uku/clay as Avara Studio in Te Whanganui-a-Tara with a background in industrial design.
Home for Avara is Kapanga, Coromandel Town, where her tupuna migrated many generations ago and continue to live. They are a blend of Pākehā, Samoan, Te Rarawa and other whakapapa. Her upbringing was close to nature and the strength, determination and creativity of her family encouraged her to pursue this mahi.
Avara designs pieces to elicit moments of joy and curiosity and looks to forms in te taiao for inspiration. Their technique is inspired by a Japanese hand-building technique (nerikomi) where different colours/types of clay are combined to create mesmerising patterns. This organic process creates endless possibilities, and aligns with Avara’s intuitive approach to making.