It’s Dive HQ’s fun-sized instructor Tyla here!
I’m a multidisciplinary artist inspired by my passions for scuba diving and environmental advocacy.
Wanting to share my love for the ocean, art, and teaching, I recently ran a “Make Your Own Sea-Themed Ceramics” night with Dive HQ. We kicked things off with some yummy snacks and drinks before moving into an introduction to the basics of working with clay — giving everyone the skills they needed to bring their ocean-inspired ideas to life. A wave of creativity surfaced that evening: textured shells, playful mermaid tails, graceful nudibranchs, and more. There’s something truly special about creating with your hands while connecting to the environment that inspires you.
The night was a huge success, and I’m already dreaming up ideas for the next one — so keep an eye out if you’d like to join in and make your own ocean treasure!
My art practice centers on materiality, environmental stewardship, and bodies of water, often using discarded or reclaimed materials to reflect our complex and sometimes dysregulated relationship with Papatūānuku (Mother Nature). Last year I graduated from Elam School of Fine Arts, where I explored a range of mediums and concepts, but I now work mostly in sculpture and photography — specialising in ceramics, glass, and stone. Whether I’m casting recycled glass to represent polluted waters, shaping shark fins from reclaimed clay to spark environmental awareness, or embracing the unpredictable beauty of materials, my work is a conversation about balance within our interconnected living systems.
I’m busy preparing for my next exhibition at Art in the Park in Auckland’s Eden Park, running from the 18th–21st of September, where I’ll be showing a range of my ceramic and glass sculptures. If you are keen to check out some more of my artwork or want to have a piece of your own visit my website https://www.bows-art.com/ and instagram @tyla_bow_arts. I’m happy to do custom pieces too!
I have a few pieces on display at Dive HQ so please pop in to say hello and check out our awesome range of diving gears and training options in store!
Looking forward to seeing you all in store, underwater or at our next ceramics event!
Tyla
