Lissy and Rudi Robinson-Cole

Lissy Robinson-Cole and Rudi Robinson-Cole are contemporary Māori artists based in Tāmaki Makaurau, Aotearoa. Their collaborative practice centres crochet as a creative language and a tool for connection, transforming a traditionally domestic craft into large-scale public works grounded in whakapapa, aroha, and community.

Shaped by lived experience and whānau, their work is deeply local, rooted in care, accessibility, and collective joy. Through colour, texture, and participation, Lissy and Rudi create spaces that invite people to slow down, feel held, and connect with one another.

They are best known for Wharenui Harikoa, a large-scale crocheted wharenui that functions as a living gathering space, welcoming thousands of people across Aotearoa. Their practice moves between the intimate and the monumental, guided by the belief that creativity, when shared, can be a powerful act of healing.