Claudia Pond-Eyley

Born in Matamata Claudia Pond-Eyley studied overseas before returning to New Zealand to train at Auckland University's School of Fine Arts. Her public commissioned works have stood the test of time and are still on display in good condition. The Women's Suffrage Centennial Project installed in 1993 is a recognised landmark of the CBD connecting Lorne St to the Auckland Art Gallery and the wider Learning Quarter. In 2000 she was commissioned to paint a mural for the Papatoetoe town centre, titled Cameos of Papatoetoe Women it depicts a selection of female personalities from the area as featured in the book of the same name published in 1996. More recently she has turned her talent and focus to film and documentary making and has also illustrated three children's books written by Maris O'Rourke published between 2011 and 2015.