DATE: Saturday Sept 26 & Sunday Sept 27, 2026
TIME: 10am-4 pm
LOCATION: 22 Hessey Street, Masterton
MEDIUM: Visual Arts
Susan Nikolaison has spent three decades capturing moments through a lens—a legacy that began with her family’s photographic venture in the 1950s. A proud Wairarapa local, she inherited both the craft and the spirit of the business, weaving family stories into every frame.
These days, Susan has traded her camera for something equally compelling: the natural world. Since retiring, she has discovered an artist’s eye for life’s quieter treasures. Dried flowers become sculptures. Driftwood transforms into whimsical installations. Her work has shifted from documenting moments to celebrating them in their most grounded, authentic form.
Her recent botanical and beach art pieces reflect a woman settling into simplicity, finding endless creativity in what the Wairarapa landscape offers freely. Susan’s journey from studio lights to sea-worn treasures tells a beautiful story: sometimes the most vivid art comes from slowing down and truly seeing.
Drawing inspiration from the textures, colours, and forms found in nature, Susan creates works that honour both the landscape and the memories it holds. Whether arranging delicate dried botanicals or transforming weathered driftwood into sculptural pieces, her art reflects a deep appreciation for the beauty of the everyday. Each work invites viewers to pause, look closer, and reconnect with the natural world. Through her creative practice, Susan continues a lifelong tradition of observation and storytelling, proving that artistic vision can evolve while remaining rooted in the same curiosity and wonder that first inspired her behind the camera.
Email: stevensue2017@hotmail.com
