Bio & Resume

Judi Lapsley Miller is a Wellington-based fine art photographer and mixed-media artist whose work explores the relationship between wildlife, landscape, and the human world in Aotearoa New Zealand.

Working at the intersection of photography and painterly image-making, Judi creates richly layered compositions that move beyond documentation into storytelling. Her images are built from her own photographs, combined with digital mark-making, texture, and tonal manipulation to evoke emotional, psychological, and ecological narratives. The result is work that feels intimate, imaginative, and sometimes confrontational — inviting viewers to see non-human lives as sentient, complex, and deserving of care.

Conservation is not a theme in Judi’s practice; it is a commitment. She has volunteered extensively with wildlife conservation projects and is particularly connected to the native kākā (bush parrot). Her work regularly supports conservation organisations through fundraising exhibitions, advocacy imagery, and public education, and a portion of proceeds from many artworks is donated directly to conservation causes.

Judi exhibits widely in New Zealand and internationally, with multiple solo exhibitions and numerous group shows. Her work has been recognised by the New Zealand Academy of Fine Arts, where she received the President’s Award in 2023 for A Hidden World (kākāpō). Her photographic work is also used by conservation, education, and environmental organisations for advocacy and outreach.

She lives and works in Wellington — a city shaped by wind, hills, and birds — where daily encounters with wildlife continue to inform her practice.

Links to popular pages.

Awards and recognition

Exhibitions

Upcoming and current exhibitions

  • 1 Feb – 30 Apr 2026: Manu Muramura group exhibition, New Zealand Academy of Fine Arts, exhibited at Rydges Hotel, Wellington International Airport (invited).
  • 1 Feb – 31 Mar 2026: For the Birds group exhibition, Te Māra Toi Gallery, Zealandia EcoSanctuary, Wellington (curator and exhibitor).

Solo exhibitions

Notable group exhibitions

  • 28 Feb – 2 Mar 2025: Wellington Art Show, Tākina Convention Centre, Wellington.
  • 1 Sep – 13 Oct 2024: Our Feathered Friends, two-person exhibition with Carol Theologo, Te Māra Toi Gallery, Zealandia EcoSanctuary.
  • 25 – 29 Jul 2023: Feathers & Foliage: celebrating 100 years of Forest & Bird, group exhibition (with Rachel Walker, Julia Brooke-White, Carol Theologo, Vaune Mason, Gillian Candler, Shawna Chow, Helen Casey, and Margaret Tolland) (invited).
  • 23 Jun – 23 Jul 2023: Matariki exhibition, New Zealand Academy of Fine Arts. Awarded the President’s Award for A Hidden World (kākāpō).
  • 15 Feb – 2 Apr 2023: Waiata Manu – Bird Song, Te Papakura Exhibition Space, New Zealand Parliament Pāremata Aotearoa. Featuring work by Bill Devoy, Amber Smith, Janet Marshall, and Judi Lapsley Miller, among others (invited).
  • 6 – 16 Oct 2021: Waiata Manu, Somervell Church, Remuera, Auckland. Auckland Art Week (invited).
  • May – Jun 2021: Embrace the Dawn Chorus, nationwide Urban Art NZ billboard exhibition. Featured artists included Judi Lapsley Miller, Chimp, Hannah Shand, Niels Meyer-Westfeld, Jeanette Blackburn, and Sofia Minson (invited).
  • 26 Sep – 31 Oct 2019: Bringing Back the Birds, Bowen Exhibition Space, New Zealand Parliament. Hosted by the Hon. Eugenie Sage. Co-organiser with Hannah Shand. Exhibiting alongside Melissa Boardman, Chris Helliwell, Niels Meyer-Westfeld, Karen Rankin Neal, Hannah Shand, Carol Theologo, and Rachel Walker.
  • 2019: Cleveland National Art Awards, Otago Art Society, Dunedin.
  • 2018: NZ Art Show, Wellington.
  • 2017: NZ Art Show, Wellington.
  • 2017: Cleveland National Art Awards, Otago Art Society, Dunedin.
  • 2017: Taranaki National Art Awards Exhibition, Opunake, Taranaki.
  • 2017: Invercargill Licensing Trust Art Awards, Southland Art Society, Invercargill.

Additional group and member exhibitions

New Zealand Academy of Fine Arts (NZAFA), Wellington

  • 2026: Manu Muramura.
  • 2025: Spring.
  • 2024: Urban Forms.
  • 2023: Fantastic Beasts, Open Celebration, Matariki, Art 2 Go, Summer.
  • 2022: Matariki.
  • 2021: Winter, Autumn, Summer, Art 2 Go, Canvas 200 Fundraiser.
  • 2020: Summer, Art 2 Go.
  • 2019: Autumn, Summer, Art 2 Go, Canvas 200 Fundraiser.
  • 2018: Spring, Winter, Summer Cash & Carry, Canvas 200 Fundraiser.
  • 2017: Spring, Winter, Summer, Canvas 200 Fundraiser.

Te Māra Toi Gallery, Zealandia Te Māra a Tāne EcoSanctuary, Wellington

  • For the Birds annual group show (curator and exhibitor): 2018, 2020, 2021, 2023, 2024, 2025, 2026.
  • Sanctuary Stories Storyteller volunteer group exhibition (curator and exhibitor): 2019, 2018, 2017.

Napier Girls’ High School Art for All fundraiser, Napier

  • 2025, 2024 (invited)

Paekākāriki Art Show, Paekākāriki

  • 2025, 2024, 2023, 2021 (invited)

Vintage Village Gallery, Raumati

  • 2025: Sep, Dec (invited).

Orion Powerhouse Gallery, Akaroa

  • 2020: Birds Eye View (with Karen Rankin Neal, Carol Theologo, and Rachel Walker) (invited).
  • 2020, 2018: Spring Cash & Carry Exhibition (invited).

Somervell Church, Remuera, Auckland

  • 2019: OPp ARt: form from chaos. Auckland Art Week (invited).

Pātaka Art + Museum, Porirua

  • 2018: Little Sprouts Fundraiser Art Event (invited).

International online exhibitions and awards

  • Light Space & Time (USA), 2017–2020: Awarded multiple category placements and special merit distinctions in Photography & Digital Media. Solo exhibition (2017).
  • Manhattan Arts International (NYC, USA), 2018 & 2021: Selected for international exhibitions curated by Renee Phillips.

Gallery stockists

Selected artworks are available through the following institutions, galleries, and conservation organisations:

Institutional and conservation partners

  • Zealandia Te Māra a Tāne - Visitor Centre Shop, Wellington, New Zealand.
  • Te Papa Store, Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa - Wellington, New Zealand.
  • Forest & Bird - Online store, New Zealand.
  • BirdCare Aotearoa - Online store, New Zealand.
  • World Parrot Trust - Online store, UK and USA.

Selected galleries and retail stockists

  • Inspirit Gallery - Hamilton, New Zealand.
  • Kotare Art Studio & Gallery - Greytown, New Zealand.
  • Artel Gallery - Ōtaki, Kāpiti Coast, New Zealand.
  • The Good Studio - Riverton, New Zealand.
  • Goody Goodness - Petone, New Zealand.
  • Edges Art + Framing - Havelock North, New Zealand.

Publicity

Articles written about Judi

  • 2017–2023: Artists Down Under magazine - regular features on exhibitions, projects, and conservation work.
  • 2016–2023: Living the PhotoArtistic Life magazine - artworks featured in multiple issues.
  • 2023: Artists Down Under - Featured Interview by Maureen Maxwell.
  • 2021: Featured Artist, Artists Down Under.
  • 2019: “Creativity & Conservation - Interview with Photo-Artist Judi Lapsley Miller”, Excio Photography Community.
  • 2018: Featured Artist, Artists Down Under.
  • 2017: Phillipa Fredericksen, “Two Worlds: Two new conservation projects show the power of photography to bridge art and action”, Australian Photography.
  • 2017: Julia Czerwonatis, “Parting the green curtain”, Independent Herald.

Articles written by Judi

  • 2022: “The Best of Art of Birding 2021”, Excio Journal, Vol II (Issue 1).
  • 2020: “A Creative New Year for Wildlife and Nature Artists”, The New Zealand Artist Magazine, Series 7, Vol 2, Issue 38.
  • 2019: “Correct Usage of Reference Photographs”, The New Zealand Artist Magazine, Series 6, Vol 6, Issue 36.
  • 2019: “Make People Give a Damn”, D-Photo Magazine - wildlife advocacy and the Art of Birding photography challenge.
  • 2018: “Picture Perfect”, Forest & Bird magazine (Issue 370).
  • 2018: “A Day in the Life of a Professional Artist”, Artists Down Under (reprinted with permission from Light Space & Time blog).
  • 2017: Interview with Claudia Aalderlink, Artists Down Under.

Commissioned covers and book contributions

  • 2025: Bird of the Year, Forest & Bird - Interview contributor (kākāriki feature).
  • 2022: Life in the Shallows: The Wetlands of Aotearoa New Zealand by Karen Denyer and Monica Peters, Massey University Press - Photographic contributor.
  • 2022: Parrot Conservation: From Kakapo to Lear’s Macaw - Tales of Hope from Around the World by Rosemary Low, Insignis Publications (UK) - Photographic and conservation contributor.
  • 2021: Parrots: A Celebration of Their Beauty by Rosemary Low, Insignis Publications (UK) - Photographic contributor.
  • 2021: Rising Tide by Jennifer Palgrave, Makaro Press - Commissioned cover art.
  • 2019: ZEALANDIA - The Valley That Changed a Nation by Jim Lynch, Victoria University Press - Commissioned cover art and photographic contributor.
  • 2019: Bird Stories: A History of the Birds of New Zealand by Geoff Norman, Potton & Burton - Photographic contributor.
  • 2015: Journal of Heredity, Oxford University Press - Commissioned front cover image.

Competitions and other awards

  • 2018: First Place, Landscape Category, Galapagos Conservation Trust Photography Competition (UK).
  • 2016: Supreme Winner, Spirit of Zealandia Photography Competition (judged by Joel Sartore, National Geographic).
  • 2016: Honourable Mention, Galapagos Conservation Trust Photography Competition (UK).
  • 2015: Judge’s Special Merit Award, Whakatāne Harbour Care Group “Birds A Plenty” Photography Competition (judged by Kim Westerskov).
  • 2014: Second Place, Wildlife Behaviour Category, Focus on Galapagos Photography Competition.

Community contributions

  • 2003–current: Zealandia Te Māra a Tāne - currently volunteer artist liaison, mentor, and curator for Te Māra Toi Gallery; creator of the annual fundraising calendar; contributor of writing and photography across multiple channels. Previously, multiple volunteer and convener roles in conservation and comms. Multiple volunteer awards.
  • 2018–current: Mentor, Australian Photographic Society Conceptual Art Portfolio Awards.
  • 2018–2023: Creator and convener of the international Art of Birding Wildlife & Nature Photography Challenge.
  • 2017–2020: Community coach, AWAKE Photo-Art Community.
  • Contributor, NZ Birds Online.
  • Contributor, Wikimedia Commons (profile).

Professional memberships

  • 2016–current: Member, New Zealand Academy of Fine Arts (practising artist).
  • 2022–current: Member, Watercolour New Zealand.
  • 2003–current: Member, Zealandia Te Māra a Tāne.
  • 2003–current: Member, Forest & Bird.
  • 2023–current: Member, Ōtari-Wilton’s Bush Trust.
  • 2017–current: Co-founder, Conservation Communicators Aotearoa.
  • 2010–2024: Member, Ornithological Society of New Zealand (NZ Birds).
  • 2017–2023: Member, Artists Down Under (Australia and New Zealand).
  • 2019–2024: Member, Excio Photo Community.

Education

  • 1987–1999: BSc; BSc (Hons, First Class); PhD in Psychology, Victoria University of Wellington, New Zealand.