About TeKoi
At TeKoi we are passionate about focusing on the relationship between health, art, and culture. All of our products encourage the flow of healing, by focusing on the self through self-expression and creativity.
This is the essence of TeKoi.
We believe that a fundamental element of our identity is through appreciation and acknowledgement of our native land, flora and fauna. Our partner artists are aligned with our passion and you experience that in our product range.
Who is Te koi?
“Te Koi” is our founder’s great grandfather’s name, from the Māori tribe Ngāti Ranginui, in Tauranga New Zealand. TeKoi was a great orator who had a deep appreciation of the land and culture of his people and whanau. Our founder, Janelle named the company TeKoi after her great grandfather to honour and acknowledge her appreciation of her own cultural identity and ancestry.
Our Founder
About Janelle
Ko Tauranga te moana.
Tauranga is my ocean.
Ko Mauao te maunga.
Mauao is my mountain.
Ko Wairoa, ko Rotorua te awa.
My lakes are Wairoa and Rotorua.
Ko Takitimu te waka.
Takitimu is my ancestral canoe.
Ko Huria ōku marae
Huria is my traditional meeting place.
Ko Ngati Ranginui, Ko Waikato-Tainui, Ko Te Arawa ōku iwi.
My tribes are Ngati Ranginui, Waikato-Tainui and Te Arawa.
Ko Janelle taku ingoa.
My name is Janelle.
Born and raised in Aotearoa New Zealand, Janelle graduated from the University of Auckland, majoring in Anthropology and Archeology. She then moved to Australia for 11 years and fell in love with the Australian wildlife and indigenous art. Raising her two children in Melbourne for a few years, and enduring the harshest Covid lockdowns in the world, this inspired and motivated Janelle to focus on her health, and finding ways to make it positive and fun. Thus TeKoi Designs was created, celebrating Janelle’s passion for health and art. Janelle has relocated back to Aotearoa, Tauranga, to be close to her iwi and raise her family back home.
Meet the artists.
Brenna Megyeri,
Australia
Rainbow Galahs
As an Artist Brenna feels most creative when she’s in nature. Having grown up in the lush Sunshine Coast Hinterland, it's no surprise that trees and plants are her biggest inspiration. Through Brenna’s paintings she tries to capture an element of what makes these plants so distinct. In this piece Brenna has expressed how she sees the banksia; vibrant colours and wild shapes from its long leaves to its understated seed pods.
Robyn Lamont, New Zealand
Tangaroa & Tahatai
Robyn Lamont studied textile & surface design in Durban South Africa, & then worked as a designer for Dano Textiles. After visiting family in 2003 Robyn fell in love with beautiful New Zealand & decided to make it her home. Robyn focuses more now on acrylic paintings, ink botanicals, coloured pencil illustrations, & art for children’s rooms, which she then produces into prints. Her paintings & prints usually feature her stylized style – stripping an image or scene right down to a few outlines, adding in high contrast, bright bold colours, & a layer of ink detail over the top. The detail often stems from Maori & Polynesian design making it more relevant to New Zealand & a special keepsake.
Jocelyn Proust,
Australia.
Jocelyn Proust is an Australian designer who has established an international reputation for creating striking abstract prints in a clean graphic style. Bold use of colour is the signature element in Jocelyn’s designs and is always the starting point for her creative process. Her designs are often a fine balance between simplicity and complex detail.
Living on the north coast of NSW, Jocelyn often draws inspiration from her natural environment. From observing, photographing and drawing plants and birds in her garden, she uses these natural elements to create unique designs suitable for use on a wide range of products.
Jocelyn is now widely recognised for her Australian Native Flora and Australian Birds Collections.
Carmen Hui, Australia
Protea
Inspired by nature, Carmen Hui's drawings are delicate with a playful Australiana twist. Each drawing is a labour of love using layers of coloured pencil strokes. Her work alludes to a narrative evoking fond memories and emotions. Carmen believes in creating keepsakes that one can treasure and love. Carmen Hui has been featured by realestate.com.au, Country Style, Inside Out and many more.
Catherine Marion, New Zealand
Kowhai, Hummingbirds, Birds of Paradise
Inspired by her surroundings much of Catherine's work takes shape after the careful selection of a colour palette, this decision defines the whole atmosphere of her painting. Once the colour palette is chosen, Catherine studies the flowers, foliage and animals she finds in her everyday life; observing new blooms in her garden, at the beach, at the side of the road or at the river Catherine draws these observations in a sketch book she constantly carries with her. Through this process, Catherine wishes to create pieces of art that connect with people and remind them of the rich diversity of nature."
Shannon Cheung, Australia
Shannon is an illustrator with a background in textile design based in Sydney, Australia. Combining her passion for beautiful flowers and illustrative design, she created Typoflora to showcase her sophisticated & bespoke designs for those who share the same love for floral illustration. Typoflora offers bespoke design for clients, as well as a retail line of original sophisticated stationery including planners, greeting cards, art prints and other everyday stationery. Shannon has worked on a wide range of illustration projects collaborating with local talents and international brands, such as Jurlique, Timotei, ANZ Bank and more.
Ingrid Bartkowiak, Australia
Regent Honeyeater with Mugga Gum Blossom, Flame and Wattle
Ingrid Bartkowiak is an emerging artist and illustrator based in Brisbane, Australia. Working in both watercolour and oils, her practice revolves around her fascination with nature and its intricacies. Ingrid completed her Bachelor of Fine Art in 2019 at the Queensland College of Art. Engaging with native flora and fauna, her illustrations are whimsical and encourage an appreciation for Australia’s nature. They often feature both realistic illustrative elements, merged with abstraction and blocks of vibrant colour. There is a focus on detailing and pattern, with one of Ingrid’s earlier interests being in the visual tropes of the arts and crafts movement.
Rebecca Shrimpton,
New Zealand
Pacific Tikis
Wife, Mama, Art Teacher, Maker of Pretty Things, Rebecca lives in the crater of a volcano (Rotorua), in the North Island of New Zealand, with her husband and two middle-school aged children. Rebecca loves any creative project but her passion is screen printing and jewellery making, and attempting to learn Te Reo Maori.