Lewis Gardiner began working with pounamu in the 1990s while studying Māori Design at Waiariki Polytechnic. Immersing himself in the study of hei tiki and drawing inspiration from both ancestral forms found in whare whakairo and the creative innovations of contemporary Māori artists, he developed a set of design principles that underpin his distinctive approach to large-scale pounamu sculpture.

A defining example of his work can be seen on the apex of Tūhuru, the Ngāti Waewae wharenui at Arahura Marae, the heart of pounamu in Te Waipounamu.

Over more than thirty years of full-time practice, Lewis has evolved a visual language for pounamu that is uniquely his own. His work reimagines the traditions of stone carving through contemporary form, scale, and precision. In recognition of his mastery and commitment to the continuity of taonga tuku iho, he was awarded the 2019 Manaaki Tāonga Award by Te Māori Manaaki Taonga Trust.

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