Studio Kyhala is the creative practice of New Zealand artist Kyhala Dunn, whose blended Northern European and Māori heritage informs a deep connection to both storytelling and place. Her work reimagines traditional motifs through a contemporary lens, weaving together hand-painted textures, vintage references, and modern techniques such as x-ray imagery.

A distinctive element of her practice is the use of historic and ancient pigments in her paintings. These include lapis lazuli, dioptase, rhodonite and malachite - which gives her work a rich, textural depth. These mineral-based colours, ground and layered by hand, bring a sense of history and materiality to each artwork, ensuring every design carries both beauty and authenticity.

Each collection draws inspiration from Antipodean flora and fauna, antique textiles, and natural materials. Some designs are painted with these handmade pigments on artisanal paper, while others evolve from layered digital processes - all unified by a distinctly organic, tactile aesthetic.

Studio Kyhala’s wallpapers and textiles are created for interiors with soul: spaces that value heritage, originality, and a sense of belonging. Whether for boutique residences, hospitality projects, or quiet sanctuaries, these patterns are designed to bring warmth, narrative, and enduring beauty to the everyday.