Prime Artisan Knives

14/10/2026

I needed a tool to make a specific cut.

Sorry whānau, not making these to sell

13/10/2026

Guess the tool I’m making.

Need a tool. Make a tool.

12/10/2026

Past. Present. Future.
In the shape of oka.

23/09/2026

Y’all say ring clamp, I say doohickey.

22/09/2026

Side quest!! 🗡️🗡️

14/09/2026

14/09/2026

Artist Introduction: A.J. Prime

AJ is an artist, carver, and established artisan knifemaker based in Cable Bay, Te Tai Tokerau, Northland. He draws on his unique combination of skills to create taonga Māori that are both visually striking and functional.

AJ’s aesthetic is often relic-like, with a preference for natural materials and tones, as-forged finishes, finely chiselled textures, and asymmetrical patterning. These elements contribute to a style he describes as perfectly imperfect.

A strong part of AJ’s practice is his use of materials that have already lived a life. He enjoys giving these materials a new purpose, reincarnating them as taonga that carry a whakapapa shaped by their own history.
Process sits at the heart of AJ’s creative practice. He favours manual processes over high-tech solutions and is willing to learn new skills when a project requires them, rather than outsourcing aspects of his mahi.

AJ’s arts practice is, at times, a personal exploration of identity and culture. At other times, it is simply about the freedom to create – for creativity’s sake.