Sean Mallon
Curator & author, Te Papa · Wellington, Aotearoa
- Style
- History & documentation
- Regions served
- Aotearoa (New Zealand)
- Tradition
- Samoa · Aotearoa tradition →
About Mallon’s work
Senior Curator Pacific Cultures at Te Papa, of Sāmoan and Irish descent. Co-author with Sébastien Galliot of Tatau: A History of Sāmoan Tattooing, which won an Ockham Award in 2019.
Motifs documented in Samoa · Aotearoa work
These symbols are recorded in the Samoa · Aotearoa design vocabulary in our sourced motif library. They are not a claim about Mallon’s personal repertoire — each entry links to its own cited meaning.
Frequently asked about Sean Mallon
Where is Sean Mallon based?+
Sean Mallon is recorded as working from Wellington, Aotearoa (Aotearoa (New Zealand)).
What style of Polynesian tattooing does Sean Mallon practise?+
Sean Mallon is listed as a curator & author, te papa working in history & documentation, within the Samoa · Aotearoa tradition.
Is Sean Mallon a traditional or contemporary practitioner?+
Sean Mallon is documented within a traditional lineage, meaning the practice is tied to hand-tap tools and customary transmission of the craft.
What sources support this profile?+
This profile cites 1 public reference: Te Papa — Sean Mallon.
Sources & citations
Each statement on this profile is written to match the public sources below. Follow the links to check the details on Mallon for yourself.
- Te Papa — Sean Mallon ↗tepapa.govt.nz
More context on Samoa · Aotearoa tattoo practice: Samoa · Aotearoa culture page · motif library · placement guide · choosing an artist