Earth, Sea and Sky – a combined celebration of the wonder and beauty of the world portrayed through Painting and Music. This very special concert features some of NZ’s top musicians and exceptional emerging talent.

Gina Sanders (soprano), Michael Bell (piano), Josh Helm (violoncello), and sopranos Melissa Tsoi, Maria Gow and Kākahu Coughlan.

Solos and ensembles by Mozart, Lloyd-Webber, Schubert, Bell (NZ), Ritchie (NZ), Beach, Puccini and more.

Some of the proceeds will be donated to one of the exhibitors who is currently battling a severe medical condition.

 Ticket prices:

$45 adults

$30 Seniors

$25 Students

Under 12 (accompanied by an adult) Free

Complimentary drink and snacks at interval.

Time:  7pm  - 9pm

Please book by emailing: admin@upstairs.org.nz

Please pay to:

ANZ: 06 0998 0023977 01

Please use your surname and number of tickets as reference.

You are warmly invited to the opening event of the group exhibition ‘Earth, Sea and Sky’ on Friday 12 April 2024, 6 pm to 7:30 pm.

Margarita Gow moved to New Zealand from Eastern Europe in 1999. She traveled and explored different parts of her new home. She realised that nature, climate, culture, sea, clouds, air, and stars were different compared to her original home. Margarita questioned how to convey the ever changing elements of her new environment with delicate nuances within her practice.

"My art is a search to find answers to my inner questions and emotions. It is important for me to capture how my soul responds to New Zealand and to express it in my artworks. The works presented at this exhibition reflect the process of my thoughts and efforts towards exploring my new found surroundings”

On show Friday 12 April - Sunday 28 April, 10 am to 4 pm, open daily.

You are warmly invited to the opening event for Ercan Cairns’ solo exhibition.

Ercan Cairns presents a body of works for the first time at The Upstairs Gallery. 

Cairns new works follow his celebration of creating with some of Aotearoa’s leading and most treasured artists. 

With these works he has pursued a direction to push Tūhoe imagery into the future, whilst guided by Atua.

The exhibition is on show 22 March - 07 April 2024, Level 1, 418 Titirangi Road, Titirangi.

Alongside Ercan Cairns’ Solo Exhibition, we will have an opening for the March Pop-Up Exhibition for Val Enger and Robin Scott.

On show in seminar room from Friday 22 March to Monday 25 March. Open daily 10am to 4pm. Everyone is welcome.

You are invited to the opening of our Members’ group show Footprint.

The Upstairs Gallery presents a platform to respond to our ever changing landscape. As a collective we are able to make considerable positive changes to our whanau, community, and environment. We invite our members to submit work commenting on any aspect of sustainability - from destruction to creation and everything in between. We encourage open dialogue on the future we would like to leave to the next generation.

On show 23 February to 17 March 2024, Level 1, 418 Titirangi Road, Titirangi.

You are warmly invited to the opening event for Sam Hickson’s solo show ‘Duplicating the Image’.

‘In this exhibition I am juxtaposing traditional portraiture with a stenciled image of famous Americans.

Like many others of my generation, I share a nostalgia for American pop culture which is so dominant in the western world and beyond.

I wanted to try spray paint, a medium new to me and stencils, to pick out distinguishing features of a person inspired by Andy Warhol and Banksy.

I found using spray paint and stencils fun but technically challenging.’ - Sam Hickson

The exhibition is on show 02 - 18 February 2024, Level 1, 418 Titirangi Road, Titirangi.

On Friday 19 January 2024 at 6pm, you are invited to the movie screening of Daliland. Doors open at 6, movie starts 6:30.

Tickets are $25. Refreshments provided. To book please email gallery@upstairs.org.nz, or txt 021 070 2513.

Suitable for Mature Audiences 16 Years and Over. M : Sex scenes, offensive language, nudity & drug use.

Directed by acclaimed filmmaker Mary Harron, DALÍLAND stars Sir Ben Kingsley as the titular Salvador Dalí, one of the most world-renowned artists of the 20th century and focuses on the later years of the strange and fascinating marriage between Dalí and his wife, Gala (Barbara Sukowa), as their seemingly unshakable bond begins to stress and fracture. Set in New York and Spain in 1974, the film is told through the eyes of James (Christopher Briney), a young assistant keen to make his name in the art world, who helps the eccentric and mercurial Dalí prepare for a big gallery show.

Runtime: 1h 37m

Alongside Ruth Cole & Gretchen Menezes’ group exhibition, we will have an opening for the January Pop-Up exhibition. Opening Friday 12 January 6pm - 7:30pm.

Jesus, People and Places is a collaboration in imagination, design, conversation, performance and visual art.

Arising out of the disciplines and discipleship within Titirangi Baptist Church “Faith in Art” collective, this piece of physical worship invites the participants to reflect on the stories of those who encountered Jesus in their places.

The imagined monologues are an invitation into reflection and contemplation as we engage with the texts of Scripture from the realities of life. As they are enacted, they are not simply to be heard for effect; they are to provoke  response. This collaboration of text and context, visual and dramatisation, reminds us of our subjective self as our hearts encounter the heartbeat of the image of the invisible God, the “I AM”, Jesus.

On Show Friday 12 January – Monday 15 January

You are warmly invited to the opening of our next group show on Friday 12 January 2024 from 6pm - 7:30pm

‘This group of paintings revisits some of Ruth’s previous work based on the beach settlements of Auckland’s wild Waitakere coast. This time most buildings and signs of human habitation have been consciously edited out of the image. Recent extreme weather events add to the plentiful information around the consequences of future climate changes, revealing serious challenges to human existence in coastal environments. Today many houses exist at Piha, Karekare, Te Henga, and Muriwai, this may not always be so. The coast could return to its unsettled state. ’ - Ruth Cole

‘I experiment. I love it. And the new is fun. I have tried colour, mediums, textures, materials, but now find ink and paper, the most unremarkable materials put together in the simplest way, most magical.’ - Gretchen Menezes

Exhibition on show 12 January – 28 January. Monday to Sunday 10am to 4pm.

You are warmly invited to relax and unwind in a beautiful space lit with candles, have a glass of wine with like-minded people, and enjoy a heart-warming dialogue of melodies and stories of two original songwriters.

Tickets: $39 - adult, or $30 if you are buying two or more tickets.

Refreshments provided.

To book please email: admin@upstairs.org.nz

Welcome to our annual members’ Summer Show.

Visit The Upstairs Art Gallery from 8 December to pick up Christmas gifts from our diverse collection of artists. We have original artworks, paintings, objects, cards, and everything in between to gift to your loved ones. Support your local gallery and local artists.

We will be open till 9pm during the Lopdell Twilight Market on Friday 15 December.

See you there.

Auckland Art Gallery Young Members Field Trip

Come with us on a Young Members field trip to Upstairs Gallery in Titirangi for an action-packed afternoon including an exhibition viewing, two artist talks, a short film screening and a drawing workshop.

We will first visit DOWNTOWN 23, an exhibition featuring four emerging West Auckland artists. With nods to graffiti, the urban landscape and the forever cool street-art-style paintings of Jean-Michel Basquiat, this show challenges stereotypes of how young men navigate their journey into manhood in raw, unique and diverse ways.

After a chat with artists Java Leonard and Fauze Hassen we will move to the old film theatre at Lopdell House for a screening and discussion of Fauze’s short film, Photographing Dead Flowers. The event wraps up with an accessible-to-all, free-style drawing workshop by Java. Tickets include a non-alcoholic drink thanks to Almighty, and you can purchase alcoholic beverages as well.   

AAG Young Members

As a Member, you can purchase up to two tickets to this event, so bring a friend! Young Member events are designed for those under 40, but if you're young at heart, feel free to join us. Not a Member yet? Join here

About the exhibition

DOWNTOWN 23 is inspired by Downtown 81, a 2000 film shot in the early 80s with Jean-Michael Basquiat playing himself as a painter, poet and musician in a sub-culture of post-punk New York. This rare, real-life snapshot embodies a diversity of creative expression that is also showcased in the exhibition, which includes works by four upcoming artists navigating the urban environment through art with a raw energy. DOWNTOWN 23 aims to challenge stereotypes of how young men navigate their journey into manhood with a collective that is diverse and varied, unique to each. The show includes works by Java Leonard, Fauze Hassen, REKSO and Valkyria.

Free-style drawing workshop

Java Leonard’s mixed-media, often large-scale works come about through a process of visualising his thoughts. Through layered, gestural characters overlapped with text, he creates colourful pools of symbolism and narrative.

This hour-long drawing workshop will be explorative and free-flowing, using simple mediums like charcoal and graphite on paper and card to capture and create a combination of interesting characters, objects, words, and abstract mark-making. Great for all levels!

Image credits from top: Fauze Hassen, Thinking about fornication with 3d glasses, detail. 2023.   | Java Leonard, 2023. Photo: Leela Bhai | Lopdell House

Cost: Members $15 + including fees

Join AAG Young Members - Young Members is a periodic e-newsletter and event programme for the bold and curious under 40. Each event* offers a perfect wind-down after work, activity for a first date, catch-up with friends or a chance to meet someone totally new. You’ll hear from fresh, contemporary voices, artists and curators and of course, the best non-alcoholic beverages from our mates at Almighty.

*All Young Members events are R18.

 The Upstairs Art Gallery & VOX365NZ present:

TIME CAPSULE
"Artists Voices Then and Now”

In a world forever changed by the seismic events in past few years there exists a poignant relic - a frozen moment in time, meticulously preserved as a record of artists' lives before the dawn of change.
Before Change, there was VOX365NZ.

Contained within this time capsule are fragments of a world characterised by bustling art studios, vibrant exhibitions, and the electrifying energy of live performances. It holds the essence of unbridled creativity, unmasked smiles, and the palpable anticipation of what was to come.

Each artefact within this capsule tells a story, capturing the essence of a time when artists breathed freely, danced without restraint, and embraced their crafts with an uninhibited passion. Paintbrushes left mid-stroke, instruments poised for their next sonorous note, and sketches brimming with life - all frozen in a state of suspended animation.

The laughter, camaraderie, and shared dreams of these artists reverberate through the artefacts, creating an ECHO of a world untouched by the challenges that would later unfold. This capsule is a testament to the resilience and adaptability of creative spirits, who would go on to face unprecedented trials with unwavering strength.

As we peer into this frozen moment, we are reminded of the INDOMITABLE human spirit, and the enduring power of ART to transcend time and circumstance. It stands as a tribute to the New Zealand artists who forged ahead, turning adversity into inspiration, and finding new ways to express themselves in a world forever altered.

May this frozen time capsule serve as a beacon of hope and a reminder of the boundless potential that resides within us all. Let it be a testament to the transformative power of art, and a symbol of the unbreakable connection that binds us as a global community of creators.

In the years to come, when we reflect upon this capsule, may it inspire us to forge ahead with renewed vigour, cherishing the past while embracing the future with open hearts and unyielding determination.

For the artists whose lives are etched into this frozen tableau, their legacy endures, reminding us that the spirit of creation is as resilient as time itself.”

We are thrilled to invite you to this exclusive VOX365NZ  movie screening - a Time Capsule frozen in time - accompanied by artist talks, Q&A part and musical performances.

Join us for an evening of entertainment and camaraderie - a beautiful enriching experience - as we delve into the vibrant world of New Zealand contemporary arts through insightful interviews and captivating storytelling on the big screen.

Supported by Lopdell House and Waitakere Ranges Local Board

Feel free to reach out to us if you have any questions or require further information. We look forward to sharing this special cinematic experience with you.

Tickets $10, Refreshments Provided

To book your tickets, please pay online:

Bank Acc: 12 3100 0108063 00 Ref: Surname, Name

Warm regards,
The Upstairs Art Gallery & VOX365NZ
gallery@upstairs.org.nz

You are invited to an opening event of the group exhibition 'DOWNTOWN 23'.

Valkyria Dargin-Greig | Java Leonard | REKSO | Fauze Hassen

Four West Auckland artists deliver a nod to graffiti and an urban landscape. A nod to the contrast of light and dark, both visually and metaphorically. There is an abstract sense of storytelling and elevated symbolism. They create works that are understated statements of powerful self-expression.

Basquiat has become a kind of mythical figure. An influence of Java + Fauze’s work and while different, their graffiti-esque mark-making embodies a similar raw energy that navigates an urban echo. The addition of a REKSO’s work is a direct reference to this culture of rebellion and the temporary, yet his work is clean and polished with a restrained colour palette. This show aims to challenge stereotypes of how young men navigate their journey into manhood with a collective that is diverse and varied, unique to each. Valkyria draws us into a cool, quieter space which safeguards a warm flicker. In this body of work, you will recognise that smile through the pain, a journey, a tightrope walk of self-destruction and self-expression.

Celebratory drinks and nibbles at 6pm.

The Upstairs Art Gallery, Level 1, 418 Titirangi Road, Titirangi

Event by Ana Vite and Maria Fda Morales (@vice.versa.nz)

Here is what Ana and Fernanda have to say about this one-day Pop-Up event:

We are living in a unique period of humanity. We are rapidly losing our connection to others, whether that be in the frayed bonds to family, friends, the natural world, or even our own values.

This is most evident in the lack of connection to our heritage and ancestry. The sharing of generational tradition and ritual is giving way to a more fast-paced, modern, and individualistic way of life, and it is here that the laws of nature are less and less integrated into our day-to-day lives.

We are building a dynamic artistic visual exhibition where each piece represents the point at which traditional knowledge and practices converge from different cultures. Each with the common idea of the symbolic practices focusing on unifying artistic communities; whether it be through ancestral symbolism, traditional celebrations, rituals, extraction, expressionism, or ancestral art.

This is a free event, everyone is welcome. KOHA Accepted

Join us to see the works of the finalists for our Emerging Artist Awards 2023.
Winners will be announced at the opening event.

Come celebrate with us on Saturday 14th of October at 1pm.
Level 1, Lopdell House, Titirangi, Auckland

A show for all the family.

Mug Show - Kids Group Show - We asked our young budding artists to let their imagination run wild, be sustainable and creative, take an old mug from home or their local Op Shop, and turn it into a masterpiece: Break, paint, add to, take the old, and make it new…

Tea Bag Art - Youth and Adults Group Show - A tea bag is not usually the base of an artwork. We asked the artists to test their skills of detail and control: Paint, draw, or mould a humble tea bag for our new family show. The show opened alongside the Mug Show.

We will be celebrating with an opening on the 16th of September. With prizes for the younger entrants. Refreshments will be provided. All are invited to celebrate with your local community gallery.

You are warmly invited to a closing celebration event for the ‘Untamed’ exhibition by Maxine Parkin-Jones. Please come along for celebratory drinks and nibbles on Sunday 10 September 6pm -7:30pm.

The exhibition will be on show from 18 August to 10 September, Monday to Sunday 10am to 4pm.

This is what Maxine has to say about her exhibition:

Being a fibre artist I have specialised in recycling textiles, clothing, ropes, wood, etc. I have built up my knowledge of the materials and now enjoying the quirky side of my art. I am using the collection of memories into an untamed exhibition.

My exhibition will have three collections:

- Wall hangings made of Victorian vices coupled with carved wooden stamps

- Paper sculptured heads and bodies painted in abstract designs

- Textile jewellery wall hangings up to 150 cm long

You are warmly invited to an opening event for the ‘Untamed’ exhibition by Maxine Parkin-Jones. Please come along for celebratory drinks and nibbles on Friday 18 August 6pm -7:30pm. Maxine’s solo exhibition will open alongside the ‘O le Malaga’ group Pop-up exhibition.

The ‘Untamed’ exhibition will be on show from 18 August to 10 September, Monday to Sunday 10am to 4pm.

This is what Maxine has to say about her exhibition:

Being a fibre artist I have specialised in recycling textiles, clothing, ropes, wood, etc. I have built up my knowledge of the materials and now enjoying the quirky side of my art. I am using the collection of memories into an untamed exhibition.

My exhibition will have three collections:

- Wall hangings made of Victorian vices coupled with carved wooden stamps

- Paper sculptured heads and bodies painted in abstract designs

- Textile jewellery wall hangings up to 150 cm long

You are invited to the opening of the pop-up group exhibition ‘O le Malaga’ on Friday 18 August from 6pm to 7:30pm. This exhibition will be opened alongside ‘Untamed’ by Maxine Parkin-Jones. Everyone is welcome.

“O le Malaga” means Journey in Samoan, this exhibit gives visual voice to 6 artists as they map their creative journeys through their art. Hailing from Samoa ,using repurposed materials their art reflects the powerful influence of legends, identity, experiences and faith on their lives from the past, present and future.

 "Creative Connections" have brought their artworks to NZ for the first time,  hoping to showcase and inspire people of all backgrounds to express their stories through  art.

Artists:

Moana Lemisio Tanielu Filipo | Elena Tusitala | Stasi Clarke | Raema Von Reiche | Shona Woods Leilua | Joy Tiumalu-Le Mamea

Exhibition is on show 18 August - 21 August, Lopdell House, Level 1, Seminar Room, 418 Titirangi Road, Titirangi.

You are warmly invited to the opening event of Kelly Milligans Pop-up exhibition.

A generative artist based in Titirangi, Auckland. Rooted in expressive code development for the browser, Kelly translates practical code patterns into algorithmic and generative digital artwork: for-print, in-motion, and interactive.
Aiming for organic texture and bold colour, he loves results with unexpected form and tech-driven complexity; works pushed beyond what's possible with traditional methods.
Kelly brews a mean beer and cooks a fine meal. He loves bicycles, birdlife, and malted barley.
He proudly calls New Zealand home, it's his favourite place.

The show has been extended to Friday 28 July.

On show from 21 July to 28 July in Seminar Room, Lopdell House, Level 1, 418 Titirangi Road

You are invited to experience the 'Worlds' of three emerging artists, each respectively exploring space, colour, subject and form. Through philosophy, abstraction and still life, a syncretism of ideas and styles is combined throughout each artist's different yet inter-connected Worlds. The Artist's collective aim is to provoke discussion and thought around contemporary painting and its relationship to philosophy and the processes of life and nature in the world we live in. Each Artist has a formal background in visual arts, and also have a family connection.

Tanisha Lovell | Andre Lay | Billy Medland-Parker

Opening event on Friday 21 July 6pm, Lopdell House, Level 1, 418 Titirangi Road, Titirangi

We are holding a workshop for Caroline Bensinger. Caroline will take attendees through her process of creating a mandala. With materials provided, please join us from 2pm on July 15. All ages welcome. Free admission.

Robin Child is an art teacher based in Somerset UK, he has been described by many in the Art World as a 'genius'. In one of his five-day courses, people achieve massive steps in their ability to paint. Up until 1994 Robin Child had refused all film crews access to his studio and art courses, he did not need the publicity or exposure with a two-year waiting list to get on one of his courses...BUT... filmmaker Robin Kewell was able to convince him to have a trial day filming, and it went well. From this it was decided to capture a whole week which resulted in this 74 minute film, in which we see how a group of would-be artists cope with the demands and challenges that Robin sets them and see how their eyes and minds are opened in just five days, resulting in work they did not know they were capable of. The film will be presented by filmmaker Robin Kewell who directed, filmed, edited, funded, and promoted the film which went on to win an award at the Celtic Film Festival in 2002.

Showing on Friday 7 July as part of the ARTBEATS series of films presented by the Upstairs Gallery. Reception with drinks and nibbles at 6-30pm followed by the film at 7pm Tickets are $25 from the Upstairs Gallery and TEXT bookings to 021 070 2513

Please join us this Saturday 1 July at 2pm to meet Caroline Bensinger for an artist talk. Caroline will share her processes and background work that leads to her beautiful paintings. Caroline will share insights into her work and examples of her working drawings. Refreshments provided. 

NOTICE OF ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
To be held in the Seminar Room,
Lopdell House, Level 1,
418 TITIRANGI ROAD, TITIRANGI, AUCKLAND.
2pm, Sunday 25 June 2023.

You are invited to attend the Annual General Meeting of the Titirangi Community Arts Council.

We look forward to seeing you there!

Any inquiries please email: gallery@upstairs.org.nz

To celebrate the diversity of The Upstairs Art Gallery we have invited four artists to exhibit in our June ‘Pop Up’. Amrit Kaur, Ayumi Maxwell, Bree Fraser, and Raewyn Curran have all previously presented work in various shows. We have now combined their amazing talent into one group show. Opening with Caroline Bensinger, this is a show not to be missed.

Opening celebration with drinks and nibbles on Friday 23 June 6pm - 7:30pm. Level 1, 418 Titirangi Road, Titirangi.

You are invited to the opening of the solo exhibition ‘Embrace and Connect’ by Caroline Bensinger.

This is what Caroline has to say about her upcoming exhibition:

‘I have been working on this series of 12 Mandala paintings since 2014. They feel like friends who have been accompanying and supporting me through my transition from work to retirement. I have found this transition a difficult process, stirring up many feelings within me: loss, fear, depression, confusion, and finally a sense of coming back into myself in a different way. These Mandala paintings have been my healing journey, and my visual storytelling, and they have helped me enter into this second half of the third third of my life.’

Opening celebration with drinks and nibbles on Friday 23 June 6pm - 7:30pm. Level 1, 418 Titirangi Road, Titirangi.

You are welcome to the opening of the pop-up exhibition by PK Photography.

Praful’s pop-up photography exhibition ‘Capture' will be on show at The Upstairs Art Gallery in Titirangi in the Seminar Room from 25 May to 28 May 2023.

Here is what Praful has to say about his exhibition:

‘My serious interest in photography began with film cameras. Mostly, I took landscape and still life. I eventually evolved into street photography which relies on lightweight digital rangefinders and vintage lenses for its specific traits and a “retro” look.

I find these photographic paintings largely focused on life. Its surrounding elements are a place defining supporting characters; it is the desire to tell a story. Most of my work is in black and white, a choice that echoes capturing a moment without the distraction of colours; it encompasses my desire to tell a story. My photography has stretched over a long period of time. It does not have a consistent uniform style, as it is photography in the moment, a story that captures my eye. My colour photography is mostly macro. I have a passion for flowers and their expression in colours. ‘

You are welcome to the opening of the pop-up exhibition ‘A. I. Bias’.

Artwork generated by the Deep Dream Artificial Intelligence. Text prompts and image modifiers by John J Scott.

The Pop Up exhibition will be on show at The Upstairs Art Gallery in Titirangi in the Seminar Room from 25 May to 28 May 2023.

What’s the problem with art created by Artificial Intelligence?

You are invited to participate in the conversation.