Anna Scott, Portrait of a Kōtare

Portrait of a Kōtare

By Anna Scott

Portrait of a Kōtare is part of Anna Scott’s distinctive 800mm round series, an ongoing body of work exploring intimate headshot-style portraits of Aotearoa’s native birds. Created in pencil on natural ply, each piece in the series commands attention through scale and detail, inviting viewers into a moment of stillness—much like the moment we instinctively pause when we hear a bird’s song.

This series began in 2016 with one extinct, one endangered, and one thriving species, and has continued to evolve as a reflection on presence, connection, and environmental care. By capturing only the head and expression of each bird, Anna encourages us to stop, look closely, and be fully present. In a world that moves quickly, these portraits offer a simple but powerful gift: a reminder to slow down, listen, and notice the beauty that surrounds us.

The kōtare (sacred kingfisher) sits proudly within this collection—a bird known for its sharp gaze, patience, and striking silhouette. Rendered in delicate pencil strokes, the portrait celebrates not only the bird’s physical form but the sense of clarity and grounding it offers in nature.

Portrait of a Kotare becomes both artwork and invitation: to pause, to listen, and to consider how we care for the living environment that sustains us.

Media: Pencil on ply (sealed)

Dimensions: 800 mm diameter

Series:  Portraits of a bird 

Artist: Anna Scott – Taranaki, Aotearoa