Bio
Inclusion, social cohesion, interconnectedness, and environmental concerns are topics that strongly influence my concepts and creative output. I work mostly as a social practice artist - addressing these topics through research, social activism, networking and collaborations; using art to help foster an understanding of each other, and of our environment.
Artist Statement
Ursula Christel
Artist | Tutor | Inclusion advocate
Ursula Christel (BA Fine Art & Art History, DipEd) is a multidisciplinary artist - art maker, writer, teacher, curator, and social practice collaborator. Born in South Africa of Irish/German descent, she immigrated to Auckland, New Zealand in 1996 and is an alumna of the University of KwaZulu-Natal. Well-travelled, she maintains a strong global network of artists and academics.
Ursula thrives in collaborative, community-based projects that often blend art-making with environmentalism, activism, theatre, and cross-cultural exchange - usually beyond traditional gallery spaces. In 2016, she represented Yllwbro (an anonymous sibling duo) at New Perspectives at Artspace, Auckland, and was honoured to be part of the Mokopōpaki whānau, a unique Auckland-based art entity.
As a mother to a son with Angelman syndrome, Ursula has been active in New Zealand’s disability sector for over two decades. Rooted in lived experience, her advocacy weaves together diversity, inclusion, human rights, and environmental care, with a strong focus on social transformation.
Oct 2021, P2P Podcast: Family, Whanau and Disability - The Importance of Beginning Early
Nov 2023, Radio NZ interview: Ursula Christel on Angelman Syndrome
March 2024, Newsroom, RDNZ: Rare disorders aren’t unusual enough to ignore
'of phantom bridges and spirit birds' 2017