I’m Jaid, a New Zealand-based artist drawn to capturing the feeling of a moment, not just the scene.

I’ve always been interested in the in-between. Late nights, half-finished drinks, conversations that linger longer than they should. The kinds of moments that don’t seem important at the time, but somehow stay with you.

Most of my pieces start with a table, but they’re never really about what’s on it. When I paint, I’m thinking about the person who would be sitting there. Who they are, what they ordered, what kind of mood they’re in. Every piece is built around that imagined person, which is why they all have names. They’re not just still lifes, they’re small, frozen scenes from someone’s life.

Outside of painting, I’m usually noticing things more than I probably realise. Small details, moods, interactions, the way a room feels when something’s just happened in it. I like collecting those little moments and letting them show up in my work without forcing them.

I’m also just really into creating, full stop. Whether it’s painting, styling a space, or chasing a feeling I can’t quite explain, I’m always trying to turn something ordinary into something that feels like it means a bit more than it should.

At the end of the day, I just want to make work that feels like a moment you’ve lived before, even if you can’t quite place when :)