Steph Nierstenhoefer

OOAK

Steph Nierstenhoefer, working under the creative name OOAK (One Of A Kind), is a mixed media artist based in Titirangi. Originally from Germany, she has called Aotearoa home for the past 20 years. A passionate visual storyteller, Steph draws on her background in photography, illustration, and communication design - cultivated at ECOSIGN, the Academy for Sustainable Design in Cologne.

After years working as a photographer and graphic designer, she launched OOAK in 2021 to explore her two greatest artistic loves: photography and illustration. Her work blends street photography with abstract design, capturing everyday moments and distilling them down to their emotional core. Through a pared-back, mixed-media process, Steph reveals the quiet beauty in overlooked scenes - inviting viewers to reflect on human connection and place.

The Upstairs Gallery holds a special place in Steph’s heart, providing her with a creative community and a platform to grow as an artist.

“Tapestry” is a visual meditation on human connection, an abstract, layered work that explores the intricate, often fragile ways our lives intertwine. Inspired by the metaphor of weaving, the artwork maps out the pathways of relationships: some direct and enduring, others tangled or shifting. Using a blend of line, rhythm, and texture, Tapestry captures the emotional depth and complexity of connection and invites viewers to reflect on the shared moments, resilience, and beauty that bind us all.