Jan Maree Vodanovich

Jan Maree Vodanovich is a multidisciplinary artist whose practice spans photography, painting, ceramics, sculpture, and mixed media. Based in Mangawhai, she draws deep inspiration from the natural world — from the wild Kaimanawa horses of the Central Plateau, which she has photographed for over two decades, to the shifting tides, forests, and birdlife of her coastal home.

With a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Photography from Elam, Jan’s creative journey has woven through journalism, commissioned portraiture, and award-winning fine art. Her work has been recognised nationally and internationally, with accolades including multiple New Zealand Institute of Professional Photography Iris Awards, the Kodak Gold Award for Portraiture, and international awards in creative and documentary categories.

Beyond the camera, Jan’s explorations in ceramics, resin, and paint reflect her fascination with symbolism, mythology, and the delicate balance between humanity and nature. Whether sculpting a bronze figure, creating mixed-media paintings, or capturing the fleeting presence of a wild horse, her work embodies themes of resilience, tenderness, and connection.

Jan has exhibited widely in New Zealand, including shows with the Mangawhai Artists group. Her upcoming book, Heart and Soul – A Kaimanawa Story, brings together years of photographic work and advocacy for the horses she is passionate about protecting.

Above all, Jan sees art as a way of holding space — for memory, beauty, and the stories of beings (human or animal) often overlooked. Her pieces invite viewers to pause, feel, and connect with both the seen and unseen threads that bind us to the natural world.