‘Birds of a Feather’, the new exhibition at the Mangawhai Artists Gallery, explores connection, kinship, and the unspoken pull that draws like to like. Two artists, Joanna Bagley and Kim Logue, unravel this theme from different perspectives, showing how similarity and divergence coexist in art, nature, and human relationships.

Joanna Bagley, with a background in Fine Arts and Graphic Design, brings years of experience in illustration, painting, and ceramics. For this exhibition, she focuses on native birds and their environment, particularly the tropical flora and fauna around Waipu, Northland, where she is based.

“I have had an enduring fascination and love of birds as, to me, they represent freedom, a subject close to my heart,” Joanna says. “My paintings place birds in a dreamlike and surreal landscape where floral forms interact with avian figures, suggesting the harmony and vibrancy of nature’s design. I hope that this sense of freedom, movement, and harmony with nature is contagious, and the viewer can take that sense of lightness and belonging home with them.”

Kim Logue, known for her work in glass and ceramics, embraces a more playful approach in this exhibition, exploring the chaotic, often contradictory connections formed during the festive season.

“My works take a comic jab at the festive season, capturing the unfiltered chaos, indulgence, and contradictions that bring people together—whether in harmony or hilarity,” Kim says. “Through a mix of print, sculptural glass, and ceramic elements, I highlight the rituals, excesses, and tangled relationships that define holiday gatherings. This reminds us that even in the most frenzied moments, a shared experience is what truly binds us.”

Together, these two artists explore how we find ourselves reflected in others and nature, navigating the delicate balance of unity and individuality. ‘Birds of a Feather’ is about the ever-changing nature of kinship and belonging—how we, like birds and nature, find our place within the greater whole.