Celebrating 20+ years of vibrant stencil art featuring native birds, ferns, and bold colours from one of NZ’s most recognisable artists.
Flox is the artistic name of Hayley King – a New Zealand street artist, clothing designer, and printmaker who has spent over two decades transforming grey walls into vibrant celebrations of Aotearoa’s natural world. Her signature spray paint and stencil artworks featuring native birds, ferns, and flowers are unmistakably recognisable across New Zealand and beyond.
Key Facts
- Artist: Hayley King (aka Flox)
- Career Start: 2003 in Auckland
- Milestone: 20+ years as a full-time artist
- Specialty: Stencil art, murals, native bird prints
- International Work: Berlin, Hong Kong, New York, Taiwan, India, USA
The Artist Behind the Name
Hayley King holds a fine art degree and first made her mark on Auckland’s inner cityscape in 2003. With her roots firmly stamped within the street art era of the early 2000s, Flox has established herself as a prominent figure both in the mural world and the contemporary art scene.
The name “Flox” is a pun – much of her early work featured prints of birds, and as you can see from her alliterative print titles, word play is something the artist enjoys!
Signature Style
Stencil & Spray Paint
Flox’s trademark style combines precision stencil work with bold spray paint application. Using distinctly vibrant and confident colours on a large scale, combined with delicate detail, she has magically transformed grey walls into vibrant depictions of the natural world.
Native Flora & Fauna
Her flora and fauna-inspired compositions are a celebration of Aotearoa’s environmental taonga (treasures). Native birds like tūī, kōkako, and fantails feature prominently alongside New Zealand ferns, pōhutukawa, and other indigenous plants.
Bold Colour Palette
While rooted in representing native species, Flox’s colour choices are anything but naturalistic – vivid pinks, electric blues, and striking contrasts bring energy and contemporary edge to traditional subjects.
Notable Murals
YMCA Christchurch
Flox was invited to paint the YMCA’s new build in Christchurch – a significant commission that brought her work to the rebuilding city.
Mercury Bay School
Her mural “Flight of the Tūī & Kōkako” was created to captivate the imaginations of students at Mercury Bay School on the beautiful eastern coast of the Coromandel Peninsula.
Spark Arena
Working with the team at Spark Arena, Flox created a backstage mural celebrating New Zealand’s natural beauty and cultural heritage.
Beyond Street Art
Flox swiftly expanded her practice beyond murals into:
- Limited edition prints – collectible artworks for homes
- Publications – books documenting her work
- Graphic design – commercial applications
- Live painting – event performances
- Workshops – teaching schools and the public
- Clothing design – wearable art
Conservation & Charity
Flox has been involved in numerous collaborations, charity work, and exhibitions. Her work with Forest & Bird and other conservation organisations reflects her commitment to protecting the native species she celebrates in her art.
International Recognition
Flox’s work has been seen everywhere from Berlin, Hong Kong, New York, Taiwan, India, and across the USA. She continues spreading her wings and making her presence felt across public spaces and homes worldwide.
Prints & Artworks
Flox prints are available through multiple New Zealand retailers and galleries:
- Official website – flox.co.nz
- prints.co.nz
- Look NZ
- The Vault NZ
- Next Door Gallery
Explore More NZ Artists
Discover other talented New Zealand artists we feature, including Glenn Jones’s Kiwiana prints, Karl Maughan’s garden paintings, and Bob Steiner’s handcrafted ceramics.