Alec O'Donnell is an illustrator based in Aotearoa New Zealand and the founder of Aotearoa Art, a creative platform he launched in 2025 to celebrate and showcase the incredible diversity of artists across the motu.

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Raised in Manurewa, South Auckland, Alec now calls Clarks Beach home, where he lives with his partner Alison and their five kids. Most of his art comes to life in the quiet hours, once the kids are tucked into bed and the house settles down. His home studio becomes a quiet space for creativity and reflection.

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Alec is a self-taught artist that has developed his own unique style. Loose and expressive, with just the right amount of detail. His work is often sparked by the photos on his camera roll. Landscapes, family moments, botanicals, shifts in light, those images often become the starting point for his illustrations.

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He created Aotearoa Art as a space where artists can connect, showcase their work, and gain exposure to help them achieve their artistic goals.