With the summer months offering up longer days, it’s well worth making the effort to venture outside the central city to check out the outer suburbs’ cultural offerings. Get started with these art locations within east, west and south Auckland.
Foenander Galleries
455 Mt Eden Road, Mt Eden
Föenander Galleries is situated within the central cultural hub of Mount Eden, the perfect stopgap between lunch and a walk up Maungawhau. The gallery celebrates the area’s rich arts history and promotes resurgence with work by new generations. Föenander represents a diverse range of New Zealand artists, presenting an annual calendar of exhibitions and range of public programmes. They also offer insight and expert advice around creating or building on your own art collection. Current exhibition, Summer, is a group show, brimming with colour. Something for everyone, and worth a visit.
The Oyster
Otara Town Centre,
East Tamaki Road, Otara
A new kid on the block, The Ōyster is the brainchild of south Auckland artists Iokapeta Magele-Suamasi and Andy Leleisi’uao. The Ōyster is a converted shipping container that provides the local community and all who visit with a quality artist-led exhibition space. Located in the thriving Ōtara town centre, on East Tamaki Road, The Ōyster is currently exhibiting the work of Gary Silipa. Over the next six months, six art activations will be presented, involving a wide range of artists. So if you’ve not experienced the vibrant Ōtara Markets yet, make a date to do so, and check out some of south Auckland’s shiniest creative pearls at The Ōyster while you’re at it.
Te Tuhi
3 Reeves Rod, Pakuranga
Located in the cultural melting pot of Pakuranga, east Auckland’s Te Tuhi is committed to reflecting the diverse identities of its communities through their exhibitions and education and community development programmes. Always free entry, Te Tuhi focuses on contemporary art and installations. The gallery also offers art and design classes, and has two permanent billboards – taking art to the community, at Reeves Road (Pakuranga), and Parnell Station.
Te Uru Waitakere Contemporary
420 Titirangi Road, Titirangi
Truly a destination gallery, Te Uru operates from an award-winning building in the heart of Titirangi. The gallery has a distinctive west Auckland flavour which it mixes with a national and international taste. Te Uru presents a diverse programme of contemporary exhibitions, events and activities, including art, craft and design, to reflect and strengthen the full breath of cultural identities, interests and potential within its community. Surrounded by eateries, stunning native bush and en route to Auckland’s expansive west coast beaches, Te Uru is a must when venturing out west.
Moana Fresh
64 Rosebank Road, Avondale
One of the brightest artist-led galleries in Auckland, Moana Fresh is as delicious online as it is in real life. Celebrating Pacific and Māori artists, creatives, and authors indigenous to Moana Nui a Kiwa. Moana Fresh stocks and sells works on behalf of more than 50 creatives, including artworks, jewellery, ceramics, books, and wearable art accessories. The gallery stable includes established artists, newly emerging, self-taught, and everyone in between. Always a hive of creative activity, if you’re looking for some spark in your Instagram feed, then this is the gallery to follow.
