Dr Sandy Adsett has had a hugely successful national and international career as an artist and educator.  He is a member of the New Zealand Order of Merit 2005 and was conferred an Honorary Doctorate by Massey University 2014.  He received Te Tohu o Te Papa Tongarewa Rongomaraeroa award in the 2018, a prestigious Te Waka Toi Award. In 2020 he was named an Icon – Whakamanawa Hiranga, of the Arts Foundation of New Zealand 2020, an honour limited to 20 living New Zealanders.  Sandy served as a member of Te Waka Toi, CNZ for many years and was instrumental in fostering links with indigenous artists through exhibitions, residencies and workshops. He was Chair of the contemporary art group, Te Atinga, in the Toi Māori collective. He has been a Toi Iho Trustee since 2010.

Sandy was educated at Raupunga School and Te Aute College and was mentored by Ngāti Porou Master Carver Pine Taiapa [1901-1972] to become a Māori specialist Art Advisor to schools.  He co-founded Te Toihoukura School of Māori Art and Design in Gisborne in the mid-1990s and initiated another cultural learning centre, Toi Mairangi School of Visual Culture, Te Wānanga o Aotearoa, Hastings in 2003 and in 2022 he retired to focus on his work as a professional practicing artist.  

‍