Under the Pohutukawa | Tracey Finch

Acrylic on Canvas

Dimensions: 42cm x 52cm

Framed in painted float frame

Three swimmers gather in the shade, caught in that familiar pause between dips in the water. Under the Pōhutukawacaptures a wonderfully ordinary summer moment — sun-warmed skin, bathing caps and the cool shelter of an old coastal tree.

Drawing on Tracey Finch’s fascination with found photographs and shared memories, the painting has the intimacy of a family snapshot while remaining open enough to invite our own stories. The vivid coral, pink and blue of the figures sit boldly against the deep, shadowy pōhutukawa, giving the nostalgic scene a distinctly contemporary energy.

Under the Pōhutukawa speaks to the rituals of a New Zealand summer that repeat across generations — swimming, gathering in the shade and those seemingly insignificant moments that, with time, become the ones we remember.

About Tracey:

Tracey Finch is a contemporary New Zealand artist, creating paintings from vintage photos to tell timeless stories.

Having grown up in NZ, Tracey spent a large part of her adult life in the UK and resettled in Tauranga in 2019 with her family. Earlier collections considered that homecoming and the contrast between her childhood memories, versus the reality of NZ today.

Today, Tracey is building on the theme of nostalgia, while taking a broader view beyond her own immediate, lived experiences. She is interested in the cyclical, generational nature of life. Her work often draws on found amateur photography and everyday moments from the past that continue to resonate with contemporary viewers, even when the memories or moments don’t directly belong to them.

In 2024 Tracey was also part of a small, volunteer team of artists who brought the first BOP Open Studios art trail to life, connecting artists with local art lovers across the Bay of Plenty region. She regularly participates in nationwide and local exhibitions.