Darcy John Nicholas, born in 1945 in Waitara, Taranaki, is a pioneering figure in contemporary Māori art whose life and work span creativity, leadership, and cultural stewardship. He sold his first painting when he was 9. He left the  New Zealand Police  force in 1973 to pursue art full time. His practice includes painting and sculpture, and his work has been exhibited across Aotearoa, Australia, Africa, the United States, Europe, and India.

Darcy’s art is grounded in whakapapa and ancestral landscapes, drawing on deep spiritual and cultural narratives. His paintings carry both personal lineage and collective memory, expressing the vitality and continuity of Māori identity.

Beyond his studio practice, Darcy has made major contributions to the development of Māori arts infrastructure. He opened his own gallery in 1975, led the Wellington Arts Centre and the Central Regional Arts Council, and was a driving force behind the establishment of Pātaka Art and Museum in Porirua. He also founded the Māori Art Market, creating vital pathways for Māori artists to connect with audiences and each other.

His leadership has been widely recognised, including a Fulbright Scholarship in 1984, the Queen’s Service Order in 2010 for services to museums, and the Supreme Te Waka Toi Award in 2013.

‍