Kerina Ward is a fine artist based in Auckland, New Zealand. Her work draws inspiration from the automotive culture and the natural world. Current themes in her work explore contrast, transformation, strength, and beauty. Such subject matters include high performance vehicles with delicate florals or fantasy elements that invite viewers to look beyond the surface and discover deeper narratives.

Working primarily in soft pastel Kerina often enjoys balancing motion with stillness, blending precision and realism with symbolic storytelling.

Inspired by appreciation for beauty in the unexpected places. My motivation is to create imaginative story-driven pieces. I am fascinated by beauty found in automotive designs - the flowing curves, reflective surfaces and intricate details that transform everyday vehicles into works of art. Through soft pastel, I seek to capture not only the appearance of my subject matters but the personality, nostalgia and stories they tell.

"The contrast between the familiar and unexpected and exploring themes that blend realism with elements of fantasy and symbolism."

My practice has evolved through a continual exploration of both medium and subject. Beginning with painting during my studies, I transitioned to graphite pencil in my final year, drawn to its room for precision, and intricate detail. Over the following years, graphite became the foundation of an expansive body of work featuring fantasy, tattoo-inspired imagery, pet portraiture, and still life, each contributing to the development of a distinctive technical style.


Everything changed when I tested out soft pastel—a medium that immediately resonated with me and has remained my practice ever since. Today, my work brings together two seemingly contrasting worlds, where the engineering of automotive culture collide with elegance and beauty, creating dynamic artworks that celebrate both strength and beauty.