Professor Deidre Brown is a pioneering Māori art historian, architectural academic, and writer who has made significant contributions to the fields of Māori and Pacific architectural and art history. As the first Indigenous woman in the world to become Head of a School of Architecture and Planning at the University of Auckland, Brown has broken barriers and challenged conventional thinking throughout her career.

Brown's seminal book, "Māori Architecture" (2009), traces the evolution of Māori architectural practices from pre-European times to the present, providing a comprehensive and influential account of this often-overlooked aspect of New Zealand's cultural heritage.

In addition to her academic work, Brown has authored several other books, including the multi-authored "Art in Oceania: A New History" (2012). She has curated numerous exhibitions in galleries across New Zealand, showcasing Māori and Pacific art and design. Her research interests extend beyond architecture to encompass broader aspects of indigenous design and cultural expression.

Brown's expertise and leadership have been recognized through various appointments and honors. She is a Fellow of the Royal Society of New Zealand Te Apārangi and the New Zealand Institute of Architects. In 2023, she was awarded the prestigious Gold Medal by Te Kāhui Whaihanga New Zealand Institute of Architects, acknowledging her outstanding contribution to architecture in Aotearoa New Zealand.

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📸 https://aucklanduniversitypress.co.nz/authors-and-editors/deidre-brown/

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