Of Māori descent, born in 1965 and a resident of Waiheke Island, Chis Bailey trained at Auckland University in the traditional Māori material culture techniques of working stone, timber and flax fibre before commencing his career as a sculptor in his early thirties.  

Gravitating towards the harder stones of basalt and granite Bailey developed form driven stone works in a larger scale while also developing his carving skills working in timber alongside carvers of Piritahi Marae on Waiheke Island to help dress the fully carved meeting house -  Kia Piritahi.

Alongside his stone work Bailey commenced a Pou legacy project in 2004 to develop carved timber pou and have them placed throughout the landscape on Waiheke Island to act as visual prompts to engage the public in Māori narratives about the land and its history.

Bailey is currently exploring the medium of bronze sculpture to capture his carved timberwork in a way that provides a longer life for his works.

Recognised for the high quality of his artwork as a senior Māori sculptor in 2005 Bailey was granted life time Toi Iho status by the New Zealand Arts Council – Creative NZ.

Bailey has extensively exhibited and completed a number of public artwork commissions both internationally and nationally with a documentary on his life and works to date completed in 2010. He was awarded James Wallace Trust New Zealand Sculptor 2014

‍