Educated at the Otago Polytechnic School of Art, where he completed a Diploma of Fine Arts between 1990 and 1992, shanel emerged during a formative period in Aotearoa’s contemporary art scene.

His practice has long been shaped by queer advocacy and visual activism. While studying in Dunedin in the early 1990s, he was actively involved in queer art collectives and the city’s emerging queer arts community. In 1992, he developed a proposal for I AM / KO AHAU: Lesbian and Gay Identity in Art at the Dunedin Public Art Gallery, where he also exhibited his work. During the early 1990s, he was involved in Lesbian and Gay Pride Week art exhibitions held at various galleries across Dunedin. His work later gained international recognition through its inclusion in Elizabeth Resnick’s touring exhibition Graphic Advocacy: International Posters for the Digital Age 2001–2012.

In his current portrait series, shanel’s experience in visual activism, graphic communication and queer curatorial practice converges in an exploration of modern masculinity. Each subject embodies a recognisable archetype of male “cool”—from the streetwear enthusiast and hooded youth to the corporate professional, poolside playboy and retro 1970s icon.

Fashion and grooming become a coded visual language. Hoodies, tracksuits, suits, ties, sunglasses and pearl necklaces operate almost like uniforms, presenting masculinity as a series of constructed roles rather than something fixed or innate. Clothing becomes both armour and social currency—a means of protection, performance and belonging.

The subjects meet the viewer with direct, often confrontational stares, yet their apparent confidence is disrupted by intricate layers of vivid colour. Neon pinks, teals, purples and yellows trace and fragment their faces, applying a distinctly queer visual lens to traditionally stoic masculine forms.

These synthetic, mask-like colours suggest something more vulnerable beneath the carefully maintained exterior: hidden anxiety, isolation and the psychological pressure to appear effortlessly composed. The result is work that balances bold visual impact with a quieter emotional complexity.

Alongside his fine-art practice, Shane has an extensive background in photography, graphic design and digital media. He collaborates with businesses, brands and creatives to transform ideas into cohesive visual identities across websites, branding, print, digital content, video and motion design.

Working with small businesses in Tauranga, Pāpāmoa and throughout New Zealand, he brings the same clarity, attention to detail and visual storytelling found in his artwork to practical commercial design. His approach centres on thoughtful design, clear communication and work that genuinely reflects each client’s vision.

shanel’s limited-edition digital works sit between meticulous craftsmanship and a sharp contemporary point of view. From hypnotic geometries to bold, satirical portraiture, each piece is created to hold presence, disrupt the room and reward a second look.

This is not art intended to quietly fill a wall.

It is art created for spaces that refuse to be bland.

HIGH-CONTRAST DIGITAL SURREALISM. LIMITED-EDITION ART. NOTHING BORING.