Jason O’Hara is a New Zealand based designer, photographer and artist. He lives in seaside community of Breaker Bay, Wellington, with his wife and three children.
Born in Palmerston North in 1968, Jason has been a full time professional creative since graduating from Wellington Polytechnic School of Design in 1989. He has designed brands, packaging, exhibition spaces, websites and communications for some of New Zealand’s top design companies (Insight (Origin), DNA and DesignWorks) while gradually building a reputation as an photographer and artist.
Currently he balances his work as an artist with working part time as Design Director for Insight (formally Origin Design) where he was a partner for nine years.
Although his primary medium is photography Jason’s does work across a wide range of styles and media at times blurring the line between art and design. He considers painting has more of a hobby these days but occasionally he does sell them … when his wife is ready to part with them.
Much of Jason’s work explores the idea of story telling and capturing heritage – often working with old worn objects. “I love the idea that objects have memory. People come and go – it is the objects they leave behind that stand as silent witness to their passing. An old worn hand tool for example is impregnated with sweat of it’s owner, the dents and marks on it tell the story of each use.
This is why I like working with found materials and using old lenses – I feel like the provenance of those objects adds to depth to my work.”
His work has won numerous national and international awards and has been published internationally including Graphis annuals. He has exhibited group and solo exhibitions in Auckland and Wellington and has been a judge in the New Zealand Best Design Awards.
If you are interested in buying anything or even just want to give him feedback you can contact him at
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Or you can even follow his latest work at the blog.
