The Husband, The Father, The Artist

Born in Magiagi, Samoa, Iosua To’afa was determined to explore the endless possibilities of art right from his youth.

His education in the arts is impressive as he spent time right throughout the Pacific, Aotearoa New Zealand, Australia at the Melbourne College of Printing and Graphic Arts and eventually earning his Certificate in Art and Design (Hons. Dist.) from Brighton Polytechnic in the UK before returning to Samoa. He would then go on to teach Art at Western Samoa Teacher’s Training College and Samoa College before relocating with his wife and family to American Samoa after the tragic loss of their daughter Davina in 1982.

My teaching philosophy is “to provide the opportunity for every student to explore their potential creatively”.

Iosua To’afa

Today, To’afa still lives in American Samoa with his wife Tafa’i and two of their five sons and grandchildren. However, after living with Parkinson’s disease since the 90’s, To’afa is no longer able to practice art and is unable to verbally communicate.

Nevertheless, he remains a pioneer of contemporary Pasifika art in the Oceania region and is arguably one of the Moana Arts Community’s best kept secrets.