The artist known as Inuka (Born Tegan Metters) was born and raised just outside of London in the UK.
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Inuka first took steps into the creative world undertaking an internship at a London fashion photography studio. After getting to grips with a camera she then left the UK solo in 2016 with just a DSLR camera and a 25kg backpack she headed to Melbourne embarking on what would turn into a 3 year journey across 11 countries.
Capturing the adventure on her Canon 450D it sparked a deep desire to create visual art. Inspired by the diversity of artistic styles throughout each country - the art and those creating it became her focus. This journey laid the foundations of her own creative exploration – a door she couldn’t possibly close when she came home to lay roots.
Returning home Inuka immersed herself in the street art and graffiti world in London. Photographing the ever-changing canvases of Shoreditch, Hackney and Camden, picking up a can and heading to Leake Street finding a flow with aerosol and starting her own collection of limited artworks from her favourite artists.
Still looking for jobs in photography - an unexpected opportunity fell at her feet. Inuka found a job at an art studio training under an up and coming Pop-Maximalist artist.
ABOUT THE ARTIST
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'Inuka Creative' was born at the start of 2020. Represented by one of the UKs leading art publishing houses from 2020 – 2023, Inuka took the leap to set out independently at the start of 2024 – with the dream to reach new creative heights with complete creative freedom.
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“I feel strongly art should be an expression of freedom and joy, a chance to get messy and think outside the box. I create art in the moment, with the importance of colour palettes and composition at the front of my mind. I want to try everything I see; I don’t want to fit into one style or one genre. Some days I feel inspired by beautiful vintage books, posters or magazines and on others I’m drawn to loud maximalist street art walls.
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I love contrast – opulent gilds next to bright fluorescent sprays, free flowing drips next to clean graphic lines, classy art deco print patterns underneath pop culture references. I feel so inspired when I go treasure hunting at a car boot sale, clothes shopping on brick lane, when creating concepts during a photoshoot or editing the colour tones on my photos. I am influenced by everything visual, to me, everything we see is art in its own way.
I want to impart what I have learnt - I want to exist in an industry where we grow and learn together with less gatekeeping and more exploration and collaboration. One day I want to have a studio where I can provide workshops, art therapy and space for other artists to take another step in their journey. I have big dreams and I am excited to watch them unfurl. The world needs art, as an outlet, a form of adornment, a form of expression and a way to form community”
A word from the artist