Andy Ruskin

Originally from Nelson with a background in visual arts and metalsmithing, Andy Ruskin moved to the West Coast in 2001 to pursue a career in jade/pounamu carving. His work is inspired by the wild natural beauty of the local landscape and the rich cultural legacy of early Māori artists who worked with this rare and challenging material—valuing it above all others.

Andy has maternal whakapapa to the deep-Southern iwi of Ngāi Tahu / Kāti Māmoe and considers his carving practice to be a continuation of an ancient family tradition.