Whakatāne Art Gallery

02/06/2026

14/05/2026

Thank you to everyone who came and shared kōrero, waiata and time with us at the opening last Friday. What a beautiful evening it was.

It was special to see people interacting with the works, and to witness whānau sharing space with the portraits of their kuia.

Beautiful moments captured by Sam Scown.

08/05/2026

06/05/2026

Mahi toi from Te Kura o te Paroa, now on display in our Matapihi space ✨
Some of the works explore tohu whenua - markers of the land that hold meaning, memory, and connection. These are not just places, but anchors of whakapapa, carrying stories of where tīpuna walked and where knowledge lives on.
Come in and spend some time with the next generation of storytellers.

05/05/2026

The e Awa te ara - hero artwork ‘The Mutant Eel Avenger’ has arrived and been installed by artist Dr Zena Elliott.

Zena is a contemporary painter and interdisciplinary artist whose practice spans painting, performance, and sonic sculpture. She recently completed her PhD and was awarded the prestigious National Contemporary Art Award in 2025. Zena has just completed her Parehuia Artist Residency at McCahon House, continuing her research into expanded painting practices.

Alongside this installation, Zena will debut her directorial work FLOAT: Slipstream, which has evolved from performance and sonic sculpture into a short film.

We’re honoured to have Zena’s work anchoring the space.

30/12/2025

Raranga Tuku Iho, Raranga Tuku Atu
20 December – 20 February
Matapihi Space, Te Kōputu a te Whanga a Toi - Whakatāne Art Gallery.
Raranga Tuku Iho, Raranga Tuku Atu presents works by Whakatāne raranga students from Te Wānanga o Aotearoa. First shared earlier this year at the TWOA, Te Tahi Street site, this exhibition brings a selected body of their work into Te Kōputu for two-months.
The exhibition celebrates the intergenerational transmission of mātauranga Māori through the art of raranga, honouring whakapapa, relationships, and the continuity of weaving knowledge passed from one generation to the next. We invite you to spend time with these works and acknowledge the skill, care, and creative practices they embody from te mahi a te whare pora.