Fono McCarthy is a distinguished Pacific contemporary artist, gallery curator, and arts professional with over three decades of experience championing Pacific, Māori, and Indigenous art across international landscapes. His practice is grounded in cultural storytelling, community collaboration, and the elevation of Pacific voices in contemporary art discourse. Artistic Practice: As a practicing Pacific contemporary artist since 1991, Fono works across sculpture, painting, and multimedia. His work explores Pacific identity, cultural heritage, and contemporary Indigenous expression, with pieces held in private and public collections nationally and internationally. Curatorial Practice: Since 2003, Fono has worked as an independent curator, directing and curating over 80 art exhibitions, 4 symposiums, and 14 solo exhibitions across New Zealand, the South Pacific, USA, Australia, and Europe. His curatorial work spans prestigious international institutions and has been instrumental in elevating Pacific contemporary art on the global stage. Institutional Partnerships: Fono's curatorial and consultancy work includes collaborations with major cultural institutions: Te Papa Tongarewa—Museum of New Zealand (proposing and acquiring fine art for the National Collection) Musée du quai Branly, Paris deYoung Museum, San Francisco University of Hawaii, Manoa Art Gallery, Pacific Studies University of California San Diego Gallery Peabody Essex Museum, Massachusetts National University of Samoa Saatchi & Saatchi, Auckland He has also consulted for luxury brands including Hilton and Westin Hotels & Resorts, and partnered with architects and interior designers to integrate art into designed spaces. Gallery Leadership: As Founding Director and Curator of McCarthy Gallery—established in 2006 and operating across Sydney and Auckland—Fono has built a distinctive Pacific, Māori, and Indigenous-centric platform representing emerging and established artists. The gallery introduces international artists to the Australian primary and secondary market, featuring some of the most sought-after and collectible contemporary artworks from the Pacific, New Zealand, and Indigenous Australia. His comprehensive art consultancy services include exhibition programming, art administration, artist representation, collection management, conservation, art investment advising, installations for family trusts and private collections, partnerships in arts festivals, traveling exhibitions, and artist management across museum, gallery, and institutional contexts. ​Artist Residencies: 2011: By Invitation, deYoung Museum, San Francisco, California, USA (Unattended) 2010: Ministry of Corrections, Spring Hills Corrections Facility, Meremere, Waikato, New Zealand 2009: Ministry of Education, Artists in Schools program, Auckland, New Zealand 2004: Mangere College, Art Department, Auckland, New Zealand ​Recognition & Scholarship: Fono's contributions to Pacific arts have been recognized through prestigious awards including the ASAO (Association for Social Anthropology in Oceania) International Scholar Award, the College Art Award, and numerous Creative New Zealand funding awards. His scholarly contributions include presenting academic abstracts on Pacific contemporary art at the Pacific Arts Association (PAA) Conference on two occasions—in Boston, Massachusetts, and Rarotonga, Cook Islands—furthering critical discourse on Pacific artistic practices, representation, and contemporary Indigenous expression. Education: A graduate of AUT University with a Postgraduate Degree in Art & Design (Masters of Arts and Design Program, 2005-06) and a Diploma in Māori, Pacific and Indigenous Arts from Te Wānanga o Aotearoa, Fono brings both academic rigor and cultural authenticity to his artistic and curatorial practice. ​Creative New Zealand & Government Arts Involvement: Fono has served on Creative New Zealand Government Arts Funding assessment panels and worked extensively with government agencies including the Ministry of Education and Ministry of Corrections, delivering arts programs that foster cultural exchange, creative education, and rehabilitation through artistic expression. He has been instrumental in mentoring emerging Pacific artists, supporting creative education initiatives, and establishing pathways for Pacific representation in national and international collections. ​Cultural Impact: Through his multifaceted practice as artist, curator, and gallery director, Fono continues to bridge traditional Pacific knowledge systems with contemporary artistic expression. His work creates vital platforms for dialogue, cultural preservation, and creative innovation across the Pacific diaspora, championing Pacific voices and ensuring their prominent representation in global contemporary art discourse.