Blake Aitken

Founder, Artist @Patronage

Auckland, NZ

I founded Patronage as both an artwork and an idea: a platform built by artists, for artists, to give us the tools and visibility the industry often withholds. What started as a concept quickly grew into a living project, blending my architectural discipline, public art practice, and entrepreneurial drive.To launch Patronage into the world, I created You’ve Walked Past Me So Many Times — New Zealand’s largest public installation. 100 reclaimed cones transformed into an artwork that, within 18 hours, generated 10k+ physical-to-digital conversions, went national in the media, and ignited conversation about accountability, ownership, and how we value art in public space.Behind the scenes, I’ve been engaging with investors, sponsors, and councils, building support for Patronage as more than a platform: a movement. I’ve shaped its early brand (With Patronage co-branding), explored Web3/NFT integration, and designed concepts for immersive metaverse galleries.Patronage is my pet project turned reality — part artwork, part infrastructure, part experiment in how art can connect communities and rewire the systems around it.

University of Auckland

Bachelor of Architecture - BArch, Architecture