Piece of the puzzle

Rewa Walters and Sophie Morrison are combining art with mindfulness to create a powerhouse of puzzles

- Caroline Moratti

Rewa Walters and Sophie Morrison had always wanted to start a business together, but the only question was what. “We wanted to do something that had social impact, something that made a difference or something that supported other Kiwis,” says Rewa. For the pair, who have spent many a night crowding round a dining table, their jigsaw hobby seemed to be, well, the missing piece of the puzzle. “Puzzles ticked all those boxes with the endless health benefits and it’s a pastime pleasure we both enjoy,” says Sophie. In other words, it was the perfect fit.

Thus, PieceHouse was born, offering picturesque puzzles with a mission statement of heart and social responsibility. The end results are good enough to hang on your walls to add that perfect pop of colour and vibrancy. As for Rewa and Sophie, they’re constantly on the lookout for their next collaboration through their day-to-day life, from scrolling social media, to flicking through magazines, and walking past a street installation. “We’re always on the hunt to find emerging and established New Zealand artists who have an eyecatching work that would look amazing but also make for an enjoyable puzzle experience,” says Sophie. They’re also only too pleased to be approached by local artists who are keen to collaborate.

What inspired PieceHouse? Sophie: We felt puzzle artwork was boring and dated, and there was a need for high quality, unique and modern puzzle designs. We wanted to disrupt the market with a fresh approach showcasing the talent of New Zealand artists and feature their work in a different format. When art meets puzzles, really.