Malia Peoples

Malia Peoples is a Kanaka Maoli (Native Hawaiian) and Hakka American interdisciplinary artist and educator based on Coast Salish lands in Seattle. Raised between Washington and Hawaii, her work explores cultural resilience and the complexities of Native Hawaiian identity while challenging stereotypes and exotification. Formally trained in fashion design, she has expanded her practice to include ceramics, textiles, sculpture, block printing, and the revival of Kapa (barkcloth), using ancient techniques to explore modern themes.  

Grounded in ancestral wisdom, Malia creates art that honors Hawaiian traditions while imagining their future. Her unique perspective bridges preservation and innovation, opening pathways for new forms of creative expression. Public engagement and sharing the healing power of art are central to her practice. She creates spaces where communities can explore traditions and engage in cultural reclamation work, encouraging personal empowerment and shared liberation through creative expression.  

In addition to studio work, Malia currently teaches art workshops at the Seattle Art Museum and in Seattle Housing Authority communities. She has presented at the Burke Museum, Central Washington University, the Hawaiian Council’s Native Hawaiian Convention, and the King County Library System and has taught in schools and public spaces across the West Coast. Her work has received support from the First Peoples Fund, 4Culture, Artist Trust, and the Cities of Seattle and Bellevue. As a member of the yəhaw̓ Indigenous Creatives Collective, her work is currently on view at the Coast Salish Museum of Fine Art and is also at the Wing Luke Museum through 2027.