Current & Upcoming Exhibitions & Events
Call To Artists
Call To Artists
Our first group exhibition of 2026 is based on the theme of ‘Word’. We are celebrating the connection of visual art to writing. We have many artists who blur the lines of these art practices. This exhibition is an invitation to utilize a word or words to produce artworks. You can write poetry, include text in your painting, or use a word that influences a photo. The work does not need to include a word, it is more fluid and encourages artists to respond and interpret the theme. We are open to all mediums - anything that inspires your imagination. Please read the details of our entry form and happy creating.
Registration due: Before 26 April 2026
Delivery week: 26 April – 3 May 2026
Jasmin Canuel Pop-up Exhibition
You are invited to the opening of the Pop-Up Exhibition by Jasmin Canuel. Opening Friday, 17 April, 6pm-7:30pm. On Show in Seminar room Friday 17 April - Sunday 19 April. Everyone is welcome!
Jasmin Canuel is Aotearoa Artist, Kaikanikani, Kaitoi/Dancer, Artist. French Canadian, Dutch, Irish decent. Born in Tauranga Aotearoa/New Zealand, Jasmin has been based in Piha on the West Coast of Auckland since 2012. Piha has provided a lifestyle for the artist shared closely with native forest, the Tasman ocean & the many water courses of the Waitakere Ranges regional park. This environment influences & inspires the concepts of her paintings & dance greatly. As a freelance contemporary dance artist Jasmin collaborates & performs nationally & internationally. Often with companies & individuals working within an indigenous framework and/or closely with the environment.
'Coastal Resonance' David Prentice and Stephen Long
You are invited to the opening of ‘Coastal Resonance’ a photography exhibition by David Prentice and Stephen Long. Opening Friday, 17 April, 6pm - 7:30pm.
About the Artist – David Prentice
My journey with photography began in my late 30’s while living in London. I had recently bought a small point and shoot camera. I found that every street corner in London became a photo opportunity and I became obsessed with photographing anything and everything. I had no prior photography experience prior to this.
A few years after returning to Auckland in 2005 I bought my first DSLR camera and slowly learnt all the different functions. I gradually become more confident and experienced and discovered that I had a really good eye for capturing things. I became skilled at photographing people and discovered landscape photography in 2017. I am now working as a part time professional wedding and landscape photographer as well as working in a fulltime day job.
I am mostly self-taught with camera technique but have learnt so much from other photographers I know who have been generous with sharing their time, experience and skill. I’m living proof that anyone with enough practice, patience and passion bordering on obsession can become a skilled photographer. Examples of my work can be found at www.davidprenticephotography.co.nz
Photographic Concept: Long exposure coastal landscape photography
I am very fortunate to live in Titirangi and close to the West Coast beaches. I specialise in photographing long exposure coastal scenes. I have been using neutral density (ND) filters to extend camera exposure times since 2021. The effect of ND filters is to create artistic, ethereal images of the coastline by using slow shutter speeds to transform moving water and clouds into soft, silky textures while keeping the landscape sharp. This allows a blend of technical precision and artistic vision. For me it is about the relationship between the land, sky and sea and how they fit together to capture a scene and to represent that in a different way.
About the Artist – Stephen Long
My relationship with photography began at the age of eight, recording the places I visited and what surrounded me. What started as literal documentation has evolved into something quite different - a pursuit of feeling over fact and atmosphere over accuracy. Having called Auckland home for more than twenty years, I have found inspiration in the city’s volcanic maunga, wild beaches, sheltered bays and urban landscapes which offer great variety for my creative vision.
I love to photograph weddings, travel and food, but my passion lies with landscape photography. Over the past decade, long exposure photography has become my preferred approach, teaching me that time itself could become a creative tool. This exploration has naturally led me to the technique of intentional camera movement and allowed me to discover innovative ways of interpreting familiar landscapes.
Influenced by photographers including Joel Tjintjelaar, Bruce Percy, Mark Cornick and Shona Perkins, my photography has evolved gradually away from literal representation and towards abstraction and minimalism. I’ve become less interested in documenting specific places than capturing the essence of being in those places - the emotional resonance that invites viewers to connect with their own memories and feelings about the landscape.
Photographic Concept: Intentional Camera Movement
Contrary to traditional photographic approaches which prioritise sharpness, intentional cameral movement (ICM) deliberately introduces controlled blur. This technique abandons literal reality, encouraging viewers to engage with landscapes through feeling rather than fact. Each image is a meditation on presence, time and the intangible qualities which define our relationship with the environment.
ICM photography involves deliberately moving the camera while the shutter is open. This is counter-intuitive for most photographers, as sharpness is usually touted as a key feature of a good landscape photograph. By creating deliberate blur, any pretence of capturing reality is abandoned, and the viewer is invited to connect with the colours, tones and textures of the landscape instead. This disconnect from the literal allows the viewer to attach memories and emotions from their own time spent in the landscape.
On show 17 April - 3 May 2026. Everyone is welcome.
'Process' Andrew Burns
You are warmly invited to the opening of the photography solo exhibition ‘Process’ by Andrew Burns. Opening Friday, 27 March 2026, 6pm to 7:30pm.
‘Process is important to me because I feel the need to be physically involved in an act of creation, the act itself is as much the art to me as the final print, and the process followed to create the print leaves an indelible mark. I think that the desire for my work to exist in the physical world and to be experienced in person is a rejection of the trends towards increasingly removing people from the process of photography and art in general. Everything I do is visibly hand-made and unique by virtue of that.
The process used in the creation of these prints lends them an organic feel, low contrast and smooth tones blending from warm in the highlights to cool in the shadows. The lower contrast, lifted blacks and smoothed-out detail tend to give the prints a timeless quality, they remind me of artefacts from a natural history museum. To that end the photos I've chosen to print are artefacts of the world that I've lived in, dispassionate records of things and places. Each print is intended to stand on its own as an artefact and although they don't necessarily tell a story in the conventional sense, the collection still feels cohesive, drawn together through process.’ – Andrew Burns 2026
On show 27 March to 12 April 2026. Everyone is welcome!
'Dandelions Through Decay' Michelle Huizinga and Abbey Lyman
Dandelions Through Decay brings together the practices of Michelle Huizinga and Abbey Lyman, exploring how moments of reflection can be found in the everyday and in the small, deliberate moments that shape our experience of the world.
Michelle Huizinga’s practice is shaped by close observation of the natural and built environment. Working primarily with clay, she draws from weathered surfaces, rusted textures, and organic patterns formed over time. Her intuitive process embraces the beauty of decay, allowing material and movement to guide each work.
Abbey Lyman’s painting's engage with the rhythms of everyday habits, using painting to document specific moments and stretches of time. Through repeated marks and accumulating marks, her paintings balance harmony and tension, combining slow, methodical processes with spontaneous, responsive actions.
While both their practices are distinct, spending time working in each others presence, uncovered a shared curiosity about how time, process, and attention shape experience. Their work highlights the interplay of observation and intuition, inviting viewers to notice the persistent rhythms that give meaning to everyday moments. Together, they create a vibrant, hypnotic space for reflection, revealing the beauty within the everyday.
As the title suggests, Dandelions Through Decay points to beauty found in subtle transformation, the overlooked textures of life, and the patient unfolding of time…
Opening Friday 6 March 2026, 6pm-8pm.
On Show 6 March - 22 March 2026
'Undertow' David Hector
Three part audio-visual experience. On show at the Lopdell Theatre Friday 6 March 6pm to 8pm. Everyone is welcome.
Special Species Spotlight
You are warmly invited to the opening of the ‘Special Species Spotlight’ exhibition brought to you by Pest Free Waitākere Ranges Alliance.
The Special Species Spotlight celebrates a tour of 14 villages across the Waitākere Ranges, with each village honouring its unique special species through a one-of-a-kind artwork. These pieces tell the story of our local biodiversity and the communities that protect it.
The in-person auction of these works will be on Friday 27 February at 6pm, Titirangi Theatre (basement level), Lopdell House, 418 Titirangi Road, Titirangi.
On show at the Upstairs Gallery from 13 February - 01 March 2026.
The Special Species Spotlight is a project by the Pest Free Waitākere Ranges Alliance in partnership with Te Kawerau ā Maki. With great thanks to supporters, the Waitākere Ranges Local Board, Auckland Council, Creative NZ, and to our auctioneer Ben Plumbly of Art+Object.
Exhibition Artists:
Anna Crichton | Monique Endt | Ted Scott | Matt Coates | Derek March | Clem Larsen | Noah Hunt | Jay Linden | Camille Joy | Stephanie Nierstenhoefer (OOAK) | Celeste Strewe | Kendra Stoner | Romina Romero | Mandy Patmore
Sunaiyna Dass 'Through My Eyes'
You are warmly invited to the opening of the Solo Exhibition ‘Through My Eyes’ by Sunaiyna Dass, Friday, 23 January 2026, at 6pm.
Sunaiyna always wanted to devote time to painting, but couldn’t! Having worked in the field of education, she picked up her brushes again post-retirement after moving to New Zealand. She studied art in her early years, where her mentors preferred to let her develop her own style. With a passion for vibrant colours, she strives to capture the moment without being culture specific, keeping her art reflective and pleasing to the eye as she dabbles in different styles, creating a sublime space for the viewer to move into.
On show 23 January to 8 February 2026.
New Year's Eve Movie
Come and celebrate the end of this year with us!
To give back to our community we have organized a New Year’s Eve movie ‘How To Steal A Million’. A classic 1966 film by William Wylel, Staring Audrey Hepburn and Peter O’Toole.
This is a free event on 31 December at 7pm. All are welcome. There are only 80 seats available. Bookings are essential. Please text 021 070 2513 or email gallery@upstairs.org.nz to book.
Refreshments will be provided free of charge. And the bar will be open from 6.15pm.
This has been brought to you by the kind support of Lopdell Precinct, Crafty Baker and Flicks.
Summer Show 2025
Welcome to our annual members’ Summer Show.
Visit The Upstairs Gallery from 5 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 5 December.
See you there.
Titirangi Potters Annual End Of Year Show
You are warmly invited to Titirangi Potters annual end of year show and prize giving.
Titirangi Potters is a vibrant community organization located in Auckland's Waitakere Ranges. Our potters are local to the west Auckland community and works are often influenced by the natural environment of the area. From emerging artists through to professional, exhibiting and award winning potters, our end of year exhibition showcases the very best of our year's work. A wide range of ages and experience means each potter brings their own style making the show a unique presentation of talent, ideas and making.
Opening Saturday 8 November 2025 at 5pm.
On Show 8 November to 30 November at The Upstairs Gallery, Lopdell House, Titirangi.
Call To Artists - Summer Show
A call to all members of The Upstairs Art Gallery. Applications are open for the Summer Show 2025. Please submit work for our upcoming show. All mediums accepted.
If you have never exhibited before, you are most welcome to enter. If you are not a member already, you can sign up on https://www.upstairs.org.nz/gallery-membership
We look forward to having you in the gallery on a sun-filled summer within the iconic Lopdell House.
Please click on the button below for more details and the entry form.
Registration by 24 November 2025; Delivery week: 24 November to 30 November 2025.
Works need to be within the size of 800mm x 800mm x 800mm.
When you deliver your work, please make sure to include a swing tag (label with the title, price, and medium).
Email gallery@upstairs.org.nz if you have any queries.
Tim Houghton ' Life As Journey'
On Friday 17 October at 6pm you are warmly invited to the opening of the solo exhibition ‘Art As Journey’ by Tim Houghton.
Tim Houghton is a New Zealand-based artist known for his expressive and dynamic painting style. With a degree in Fine Art from Cardiff College of Art, he spent two decades in the San Francisco Bay Area, exhibiting his work in solo and group shows.
Tim is fascinated by the colours and vibrancy of the world’s cultures and peoples and the challenge of capturing these visual experiences on paper or canvas. His passion for travel has taken him to over 60 countries—most recently Morocco, Eastern Europe, India, Spain and the Pacific Islands.
Alongside his artistic journey, he has been deeply involved in social work, supporting refugees and marginalised communities. His faith plays a central role in his life and creative practice, reflecting a deep appreciation for beauty, movement and storytelling through art.
Tim says, “For as long as I can remember, a cluster of interests—art, world cultures, people, travel and faith—have resurfaced in various combination like a giant Rubik’s cube, to define the direction of my life and work.
Having lived for the last 25 years in New Zealand, Tim paints in watercolour and acrylics in his home studio.
The Exhibition is on show from 17 October to 2 November. Everyone is welcome!
Shirley Beveridge 'My Journey'
On Saturday 27 September, from 1pm to 2:30pm, you are warmly invited to the opening of Shirley Beveridge’s solo exhibition ‘My Journey’.
My Journey by Shirley Beveridge is a retrospective exhibition showcasing her expressive work in acrylics over past years. Colour, texture and movement come together to convey mood and meaning, offering a visual essence that is both powerful and energetic. Each brush stroke is strong and vibrant, bringing energy and emotion. Through acrylics, Shirley captures moments of reflection and imagination, allowing her artistic flair to unfold across the canvas.
My Journey invites viewers to celebrate with Shirley and be part of her journey.
On Show from 27 September to 12 October. Everyone is welcome.
Emerging Artist Awards 2025
Welcome to our annual Emerging Artist Awards.
This year’s theme is “Life Out Loud”
A Celebration of our Emerging Artists’ creativity, and bold expression
In a world that often feels uncertain, heavy, and unrelenting, we want our 2025 exhibition to showcase the work of emerging artists who capture the essence of what it means to live boldly - to find colour, joy, defiance, and meaning in everyday existence. Whether through photography, painting, sculpture, or any other medium, these pieces should reflect a shared refusal to be dulled or diminished by the weight of the times.
Finalists Are:
Richard Burgoyne | Anna Coulbeck | Lisa Watkins | Victoria Toms | Claire Preen | Lily Lei | Edward Prince | Matt Coates | Karen Wilde | Natalee Raymond | Sandra Douglas | Amy Louise Hewinson | Katy Yang | Isabelle Mathys | Sophia Mitke | Lydia Sewell | Masha Kheirkhan | Mikhail Nazarov | Vinny Murahwa | WhoFace | Steve Cascalheira | Amy Vitale | Serena Wolfkamp | Clare A Thompson | Julia Vale | Bryn Corkery | Gabrielle Gatt | Angela Amerigo | Sarah Yin | Ainslie Hinvest | Isabel Rust | Marina Pauliukova | Robert Looker | Kate Serebrianskaia | Jacqui Wilkinson | Delphine Pujol | Casey Knight | SKW | Raewyn Booth
Our Prizes Are:
First Place - Ember Award - $2,000
Second Place - Marokii Vano Award - $1,000
Third Place - Sam Tamahara Award - $500
Resene Painting Award - $500 voucher
Manager’s Encouragement Award- $350
Lopdell Trust Award- $300
Barfoot and Thompson Titirangi Award- $250
Rogue Graphics Awards- $250
Ray White Titirangi Award - $250
Adison Award - $200
Jeff Wells Award- $200
Steve Tollstrup Award- $200
Robertson Award- $150
Cherry Award- $100 voucher
Crafty Baker- Crafty Baker Prize Pack
Awards Ceremony and Opening Saturday 30 August 1pm – 3pm
On Show 30 August - 21 September, open 10am to 4pm daily.
Chloe Blades & Laurette Looker 'Nothing To See Here'
You are warmly invited to the opening of the exhibition ‘Nothing To See Here’ on Saturday 9 August from 5pm to 6:30pm.
Nothing to See Here brings together the vibrant, emotionally rich works of two West Auckland artists and working mothers, reflecting on their need for solitude while navigating the responsibilities and complexities of raising a young family. In this joint exhibition, Chloe’s playful table scenes transport us to a decadent place women can transcend to when in reality they’re feeding their children nuggets watching Bluey. Laurette’s portraits, meanwhile, are like whispered daydreams, holding space for stillness, introspection, and the quiet hum of internal monologue. Though stylistically distinct, both artists share a bright, naïve aesthetic that favours atmosphere over realism. Their work offers a personal glimpse into the inner lives of women, often tucked behind everyday routines and the occasional daydream of being somewhere else. As the title suggests, Nothing to See Here winks at the idea that the domestic and emotional lives of women can be invisible or overlooked, when in fact, they’re everywhere.
On Show 9 August to 24 August. Everyone is welcome!
Karen Ric-Hanses Solo Show 'Value'
You are warmly invited to the opening of the Solo Exhibition ‘Value’ by the local emerging artist Karen Ric-Hansen. Opening Friday 18 July 6pm - 7:30pm. Everyone is welcome.
We place value on what we see and who we are, on what we hold dear and what we seek. Sometimes we overlook the simple, the ordinary, the hidden and priceless treasures around us. This collection of work is shaped using mostly white paper and charcoal. Simple, available materials - easily discarded. The layering and removing of the charcoal layers reveals the light and darkness that allows the beauty, shapes and patterns “of life” to shine.
The word ‘value’ has roots in the Latin word ‘valere’, meaning to be strong, to be well and be of worth. In the rushing of life, what is it that we value, what makes us strong, and gives us hope? What layers need removing to reveal the light? The beauty of creation, the power of light over darkness and the contrast between black and white inspired the artist to reflect on the bigger questions of life.
These works weave together the natural world and daily life highlighting beauty that inspires, calms, makes us strong and creates reflective spaces to ponder what is truly valuable in life.
On show in the main gallery from 18 July till 3 August. Gallery open daily 10am to 4pm.
Sue Quayle Exhibition 'Treasure Of Life'
You are warmly invited to the opening of the exhibition ‘Treasure of Life’ by a local emerging artist Sue Quayle. On show 18 July - 03 August, alongside a solo exhibition by Karen Ric-Hansen.
Life is a treasure, a taonga. In a world where hope is fragile, we need to be reminded that there is hope, there is good in the world. Through the medium of water colour, Sue reminds us that there is a wonder still here that points to good. We can experience joy and hope despite the suffering and darkness. Sue’s work plays on the juxtaposition of light and dark, the bold use of colour, with whispers of subtlety reflecting the tensions of our environment and our experiences. Her environment in Titirangi, “the fringe of Heaven”, speaks into her practice, with recurring themes of the spiritual.
Alongside watercolour, fabric has played an important role in her life and the immediacy of textiles has helped express the spirit of love and generosity. Her techniques have developed from the traditional to the freestyle. Come and share the stories woven and hear the call to treasure life.
Kathleen McNeil Pop Up Exhibition 'Heart Murmurs'
You are warmly Invited to the opening of the Pop Up photographic exploration ‘Heart Murmurs’ by Kathleen McNeil. Opens Friday 27 June, 6:00 pm to 7:30 pm.
This project traces the quiet presence of love and loss through images of heart shapes found in unexpected places. These chance discoveries mirror life’s unpredictability—reminding us that love is always near, often appearing when we least expect it.
The heart, both symbol and organ, evokes connection, vulnerability, and grief. This work is deeply personal, shaped by the artist’s experience with heart-related illness and the loss of loved ones, as well as the enduring power of deep love.
Through a blend of symbolism and lived experience, Kathleen McNeil invites viewers to slow down and notice the emotional resonance hidden in everyday life. This exhibition is both a tribute to those lost and a quiet celebration of love’s persistent presence.
On show 27 June to 30 June, Everyone Welcome.
2025-06-27 Rhyll Stafford 'Human Nature'
You are warmly invited to the opening of a solo exhibition of Encaustic Art and Stone Assemblage by Rhyll Stafford. Opening Friday 27 June, 6pm to 7:30pm.
Human Nature. The phrase opens up more questions than answers. Discussions with my son as I put this show together have circled around survival, combat and struggle, as well as tenderness, connection and what it means to belong.
Encaustics, an ancient Greek/Roman beeswax and tree resin medium, is a wonderful way to work with this theme. Honeycomb, sticks, tree resins, stone, oil paint, photo transfers, pastels, copper, brass and steel all have qualities that add to the narrative.
We are called to be wide awake in these times, to either grow more humane with each other and meet the needs of our earth, or become inhuman. How can we serve generosity rather than greed? What would happen if mistakes were our learning and not punishment, if we chose care over competition, protection instead of exploitation, connection rather than division?
In a world where alienation is rife, what does human nature mean to you? The artwork isn’t an answer. It is offered as an invitation, hopefully provoking conversation about what is fragile, enduring, lost and yet still possible.
On show 27 June - 13 July. Everyone is welcome!
Call to Artists - Emerging Artist Awards 2025
Welcome to our annual Emerging Artist Awards. This is a callout to all artists who cannot ignore their creative aspirations.
Entries are now open for all emerging artists for 2025.
This year’s theme is “Life Out Loud”
A Celebration of our Emerging Artists’ creativity, and bold expression
In a world that often feels uncertain, heavy, and unrelenting, we want our 2025 exhibition to showcase the work of emerging artists who capture the essence of what it means to live boldly - to find colour, joy, defiance, and meaning in everyday existence. Whether through photography, painting, sculpture, or any other medium, these pieces should reflect a shared refusal to be dulled or diminished by the weight of the times.
Please click the button below to download an entry form that contains the details on entry requirements.
REGISTRATION CLOSES AT 4PM ON Sunday 10 August. LATE ENTRIES WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED.
Email gallery@upstairs.org.nz with any enquiries or call 098174278.
Awards Ceremony and Opening Saturday 30 August 1pm – 3pm
On Show 30 August - 21 September, open 10am to 4pm daily.
AGM 2025 - Titirangi Community Arts Council
NOTICE OF ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
To be held in the Seminar Room,
Lopdell House, Level 1,
418 TITIRANGI ROAD, TITIRANGI, AUCKLAND.
11 am, Sunday 08 June 2025.
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
2-25-06-06 Jago Neal 'Pause' - Auckland Festival Of Photography
In his latest collection, Jago Neal invites us into a world where time slows and observation takes precedence. Using alternative processes and unconventional approaches, Jago pushes the boundaries of traditional photography to create unexpected and captivating results. For him, photography, especially shooting film, is more than just capturing images—it's a deliberate pause from the everyday pace of life. It is a moment to step back, be present, and observe the natural environment.
Using a variety of cameras, Jago captures fleeting details and moments, each frame a testament to his contemplative approach. In the darkroom, he marries experimental techniques such as liquid light with other media—wood transfers, dyes, wax and paint — creating layers of meaning that extend beyond the photograph.
Jago's work seeks a delicate balance between the accidental and the controlled, where the unexpected beauty of chance encounters merges with the precision of technique. In doing so, he challenges the viewer's perception of photography, offering a distinctive vision that blends traditional and experimental processes.
This exhibition encourages us to slow down, to pause, and to see photography not only as an art form, but as an opportunity to engage more deeply with the world around us.
This exhibition runs as part of the Auckland Festival of Photography: https://www.photographyfestival.org.nz/programme/detail.cfm?exhibition_id=2868&exhibition_date=1-jun-2025
Everyone is welcome!
2025-05-16 Paola King-Borrero Solo Exhibition 'em-bedded'
em-bedded
The bed serves as a profound space for deep contemplation, where emotions, dreams, and memories intertwine. Symbolically, the bed represents the vast spectrum of human experience—birth, growth, death; memories, nightmares, dreams; pain, illness, love. Paola King-Borrero explores the bed as both an intimate object and a creative catalyst, inviting us to see it not just as a physical space but as a symbolic one, rich with personal and artistic meaning. Embedding herself and the spectator in the resting spaces of muses, King-Borrero reveals a dynamic arena where desire, the body and the unconscious serve as impetuses for creative expression.
“Influenced by the tradition of Magic Realism and deeply informed by my Latin American heritage, my work exists at the intersection of mysticism, memory, and materiality. Through the transformation of found objects, I seek to transcend their origins, recontextualizing them as conduits of new meaning. These objects become vessels of a narrative that carries the weight of both personal and collective histories, real and imagined. I seek to transform the ordinary into the extraordinary, imbuing found objects with new meaning and exploring the tension between the tangible and the ethereal. The body, central to my work as both subject and medium, is an archive of experience— inscribed with longing, suffering, and transcendence. It serves as a threshold where the mystical and the mundane converge, dissolving the boundaries between the sacred and the profane. Through this process, I construct spaces that challenge the stability of reality, evoking a sense of wonder, unease, and the macabre. My work invites viewers into a world where perception is unsettled, revealing the intricate layers of memory, mythology, and the unseen forces that shape our existence.” - Paola King-Borrero
Opening Friday 16 May, 6pm - 7:30pm
On Show Friday 16 May - Sunday 1 June
2025-04-26 Ahsin Ahsin Solo Exhibition 'Mango or Lemon'
You are warmly invited to the opening of the solo exhibition ‘Mango or Lemon’ by Cook Island contemporary artist AHSIN, on Saturday 26 April at 12pm.
His vibrant and bold works are influenced by 1980s-90s sci-fi films, street art, and comic books, incorporating a range of artistic and pop culture references. His imagination brings to life fantastic creatures, sigils, graffiti marks and gestures, all suspended in hyperspace.
The exhibition is on show from 26 April to 11 May.
Everyone is welcome!
2025-03-29 Members Group Exhibition 'Aspire'
‘Aspire’
Times can be uncertain. Things can change on a national level but also personally. This exhibition asks what your aspirations are. What would you like to happen with your future? For you, your family, community, country, world.
Join us on Saturday 29 March at 12pm for a Members Group Exhibition Opening.
On show 29 March to 20 April. Everyone is welcome.
2025-03-29 World Of Cultures Event: Naomi Azoulay 'Where Are You From?'
Where are you from? A celebration of cultural diversity in Aotearoa
The Upstairs Gallery is thrilled to present Where are you from?, an exhibition by Naomi Azoulay that features vibrant, large-scale oil portraits of Aucklanders from diverse ethnic backgrounds.
Through Naomi’s powerful visual storytelling, Where are you from? challenges conventional views of what it means to be a New Zealander and invites all who visit to see Auckland through a lens of inclusivity, identity, and shared humanity.
The exhibition will also include a collage workshop where participants can create their own contributions to the conversation. A family friendly workshop, open to all ages and skill levels. Naomi will guide participants to create works to highlight their culture and connection to Tāmaki Makaurau.
Free workshop will be on Saturday, 29 March at 12pm - 2pm.
Everyone is welcome!
2025-03-07 Emma Beth 'Becoming Marsh'
You are warmly invited to the opening of the solo exhibition ‘Becoming Marsh’ by Emma Beth. Opening Friday 7 March, 6pm-7:30pm.
Becoming Marsh explores the fluid, permeable nature of bodies, drawing on post-humanist thought to reveal our entanglements with the watery world. These painted figures extend beyond their “sacs of skin” (Neimanis), rejecting containment and fixed boundaries. Their forms, often suggested only through outlines, morph into swampy backgrounds, dissolving distinctions between subject and environment and evoking an affective world. The watery materiality of paint serves as a feminist inquiry, challenging expectations that women remain clean, controlled, and separate from the porous realities of embodiment. Colour bleeds across the surface, embracing the unruly, the interconnected, and the ever-becoming state of existence. By rejecting anatomical definition, the figures transform into something animalistic: feral, imperfect, and deeply human.
Neimanis, Astrida. Bodies of Water: Posthuman Feminist Phenomenology. Bloomsbury, 2017.
On show from 7 March to 23 March 2025. Everyone is welcome!
2025-03-07 'M/Otherhood' Pop-up Group Exhibition
Join us this March for a powerful group exhibition featuring works by Naomi Azoulay, Ronja Schipper (re:purpose), Roberta Queiroga, Tatiana Harper and Steph Nierstenhoefer (OOAK). Together, we explore the complex and beautiful narratives of motherhood and identity.
Opening: Friday 7th March, 6pm - 7:30pm
Exhibition Dates: 7th–12th March
Seminar Room, Level 1, 418 Titirangi Road, Titirangi
M/Otherhood: An Exploration of Maternal Realities
Motherhood is often framed through a lens of expectation, tradition, and idealization. M/Otherhood is a bold, multi-artist exhibition that challenges, redefines, and reclaims the maternal experience through diverse artistic voices. Featuring works from a range of contemporary artists, this exhibition explores the unseen, the unspoken, and the deeply personal—shining a light on the complexities, contradictions, and raw truths of mothering.
From themes of identity, loss, resilience, and transformation to the often-overlooked narratives of caregiving, absence, and choice, M/Otherhood invites audiences to reflect on what it means to mother, be mothered, or exist outside of conventional maternal roles. Through painting, sculpture, photography, and mixed media, this exhibition disrupts stereotypes and opens a conversation that is as intimate as it is universal.
Join us as we unravel the layers of M/Otherhood, where art becomes a vessel for honesty, reflection, and the untold stories of maternal existence.
All are welcome to celebrate the opening night and experience the journey of M/Otherhood.
This exhibition opens alongside the solo exhibition ‘Becoming Marsh’ by Emma Beth.
Save the date and join us!
Call To Artists - Members Group Show 'Aspire'
‘Aspire’
Times can be uncertain. Things can change on a national level but also personally. This exhibition asks what your aspirations are. What would you like to happen with your future? For you, your family, community, country, world. Submissions can speak on this topic in any way the artist interprets. All mediums are welcome. All ages are welcome.
Application closes on 23 March 2025.
Please click the button below to find the application form and entry details.
2025-02-14 Pusi Urale 'Fiafiaga – Celebration'
Join us for a colourful tribute to life, joy and art Fiafiaga – Celebration, a solo exhibition by Pusi Urale featuring her latest body of work. Opens Friday 14 February 6pm - 7:30pm.
“My art has kept me alive and living a fulsome joyful life. At my age, the body feels heavy and numb and feels challenged every morning, but the idea of creating new work gives me purpose. It encourages me to slowly get out of bed and start a new day. I feel lucky that I have a hobby that keeps my creativity flowing and gives me tremendous happiness. I hope that other old people have creative hobbies in any artform that is a source of happiness like painting is for me. At 86 years old I still look forward to creating my own fun art everyday.“ - Pusi Urale
Pusi Urale is a New Zealand-based artist of Samoan heritage, celebrated for her vibrant and distinctive style that draws deeply from her Pacific Island roots. Born in Samoa, Urale moved to New Zealand with her family in the 1970s, becoming part of the Pacific diaspora that has significantly enriched Aotearoa's cultural landscape.
Primarily a self-taught artist, Urale began painting later in life, after raising her family, and quickly gained recognition for her bold, colorful works. Her art often incorporates traditional Samoan motifs and symbols, reimagined through a contemporary lens. Urale's paintings explore themes of identity, community, and connection, celebrating Pacific culture while also reflecting her experience as part of the Samoan diaspora in New Zealand.
Urale has exhibited her work widely in solo and group exhibitions across New Zealand, earning her a reputation as a key figure in the Pasifika art scene. Notably, she was a finalist in the prestigious Wallace Art Awards.
The exhibition is on show 14 February – 2 March. Open daily 10am to 4pm. Everyone is welcome.
2025-01-24 Rosamund Lowrey ‘Silent Wings, Painted Stories’
You are warmly invited to the opening of the Solo Exhibition ‘Silent Wings, Painted Stories’ by Rosamund Lowrey. Opening Friday 24 January, 6pm.
‘Paintings in oil and watercolour often incorporating native birds and found objects invoking other narratives.’ – Ros Lowrey
The exhibition is on display from 24 January to 9 February. It is open daily from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Everyone welcome.