Julie Paama-Pengelly (born 1964) is a New Zealand tā moko artist, painter, commentator, and curator.^[1][2]

Paama-Pengelly is of Māori (Ngāi Te Rangi, Ngāi Tūwhiwhia, Ngāi Tauaiti and Ngātii Tapu) descent.^[2] She was educated at St Matthew's Collegiate School in Masterton.^[3] In 2003, she graduated with a Masters of Māori Visual Arts degree with honours from Massey University, Palmerston North. Prior to that she graduated with a diploma in teaching (1989), and a Master of Philosophy in third-world development (2003) also both from Massey University in Palmerston North.^[4] Paama-Pengelly's undergraduate degree was a degree in social sciences (anthropology). She has also studied te reo Māori through Te Ataarangi.^[1]

Her early work was in graphic design and advertising, Paama-Pengelly went into teaching and taught art at secondary schools and at tertiary level.^[1] During this time in the early 1990s, she began her artistic engagement with tā moko (traditional Māori tattoo).^[5] At this time, it was very unusual for a woman to be involved in this art form. She was inspired to get into tā moko by Robert Jahnke and Derek Lardelli.^[6][7] She says in an interview about being captured by the power of tā moko, ''I witnessed someone getting significant moko. I realised it was a powerful way for our community to claim their pride ... reclaiming positive forms of identity. At the time, I had no idea it was going to become such a popular form of identity.''^[8]

Paama-Pengelly was the head of faculty between 2004 and 2007 of Te Toi Whakarei, Art and Visual Culture at Te Whare Wānanga o Awanuiārangi in Whakatāne.^[1] Paama-Pengelly has also taught at the Western Institute of Technology, Taranaki and Massey University, Wellington. She established a tattoo studio in Mt Maunganui in 2011 called Art + Body.^[6][9][10]

Her art practice includes paintings, printmaking, installation, and tā moko. She has authored books on Māori art, curated art exhibitions and contributed to critical discourse on Māori art.^[11][12][13] Her work has helped lead to a revival of indigenous tattoos in both New Zealand, but also worldwide.^[5][14]

Writer Awhina Tamapara says of Paama-Pengelly's practice: "Exploring how Māori are portrayed by others (as opposed to how they portray themselves) is a predominant concern of her work. Her paintings are paradoxical – a direct response to the stereotypical, negative images of Māori. In her 'Broke' series, she has explored how Māori are portrayed commercially."^[1]

In 2022, Paama-Pengelly was Trust chairperson for Te Tuhi Mareikura Trust.^[15][16]

Paama-Pengelly is of Māori (Ngāi Te Rangi, Ngāi Tūwhiwhia, Ngāi Tauaiti and Ngāti Tapu) descent.^{[2][verification needed]}