Raised in Los Angeles, Stevenson is of Tahitian heritage and moved to Ōtautahi Christchurch in 1995 to take up a position in the art history department at the University of Canterbury. Fellow lecturer Jonathan Mane-Wheoki provided encouragement and contemporary Pacific artists in Aotearoa New Zealand inspiration for Stevenson’s research, leading to a significant career of publishing and advocacy focused on art and art histories from across the Pacific region, both in Aotearoa and internationally.

Stevenson’s art history presented a fresh perspective that acknowledged the historical traditions and context that Pacific artists were drawing on and the distinct forms, techniques and processes inherent to their work. Alongside sculpture and painting, she incorporated collective practices, performance and craft, such as bark cloth, mats, jewellery, costume and tivaevae textiles. Stevenson built strong relationships with artists and wrote several important texts, often based on extensive interviews, publishing books on Johnny Penisula (1941–2023) and Filipe Tohi (b. 1943), and many articles on Pacific practices, women, persistence, change and meaning. Stevenson developed an engaging art history that reinforced how art is imbued with identity, culture and innovation.

In this, the second session on Art Histories of Aotearoa, Oliver will share some key artworks and exhibitions based on Stevenson's research.