Secret Art Powers
How creative thinking can achieve radical change
“A brilliant and important book by one of New Zealand’s greatest creative minds.”
— Bret McKenzie, Flight of the Conchords
What secret powers do artists use daily? How might they help us navigate these complex, changing times?
Celebrated artist Jo Randerson explores six creative mindsets which can help us dissolve unhealthy power relationships, communicate across difference, and to sing while we do it.
Secret Art Powers has already had wide success; the first print run sold out within 2 weeks and it is currently in its fourth print run. Jo is appearing at literary festivals around Aotearoa in 2026 and the book has received glowing reviews and public response.
Jo is also an acclaimed performer and alongside traditional panels and forums, they can also offer theatrical lectures demonstrating the powers. Their debut theatrical lecture at the Auckland Writers Festival sold out within weeks of the festival launching.
Visual Poetry
Watch the six animations distilling the essence of each chapter of Secret Art Powers.
Theatrical Lecture
What is a theatrical lecture?
When Jo Randerson began conceptualising Secret Art Powers, they tapped into their theatrical side and explored their ideas through a series of lectures, one on each Power. These developed into the book you (hopefully) have in your hands.
Now, Jo has gone back to their theatre roots and has created the Secret Art Powers Theatrical Lecture, an interactive 60-minute epic talk-performance-lecture-show exploring each Power in the creative ways that only Jo Randerson could share with audiences.
If you’d like to find out more, or request a showing, please get in touch!
Reviews & Interviews
Excerpt Published by Claire Mabey — (The Spinoff)
Interview with Kate Larkindale (Aotearoa Festival of the Arts)
Book Review — Emma Hislop (RNZ)
Book Review — (Regional News)
Jo’s Interview with André Chumko (The Post)