22/12/2025
The Boring Gallery has a new owner - Kim Rees
Peter Shepherd, owner of The Boring Gallery, signalled a couple of months ago that it was time for a new adventure, and now Kim Rees, local potter and pastel artist, is picking up the baton to become the new owner of this hugely successful gallery. Under Kim’s ownership, the gallery will reopen on 2 January. A great way to start the new year.
This may be a new venture for Kim, but she is no stranger to operating a business, having been self-employed for 25 years, or to the world of art and artists; combining the two talents just makes sense.
“I’m stepping into Peter’s shoes; it’s exciting. I’ve got a whole bunch of new artists, and I’m looking to turn the upstairs into a workshop space, and I want to get more youth involved in art, including holiday programmes,” says Kim.
The artists Kim will be bringing into the fold are from New Plymouth, Wellington, and Hawera. There will be about 20 artists all up, about 10 of whom are potters. Louise Herdman, mosaic artist, will continue being part of the gallery. Kim’s daughters Aleisha and Grace are also artists, as is her mother, Yvonne, who will all be contributors to the gallery, too.
Kim will be rolling up her sleeves, no doubt with help from her family, giving the gallery a refresh and putting her personal stamp on the space over the holiday period, before the grand opening.
Peter and his wife have become owners of a four-acre property on Western Line, and aside from the usual house renovations, Peter, an accomplished sculptor, has grand plans to develop the property as a sculpture garden.
“I’m certainly not leaving the art world; it will just be different for me.”
Peter has operated four galleries over the years, and he says this will be his last. That doesn’t mean he won’t be on hand to support Kim as the new owner. Peter backs her all the way.
“I want Kim to succeed at The Boring Gallery, because the Whanganui Arts Centre is a really important thing to have here. The gallery has increased the foot traffic to this area tenfold. The Boring Gallery gives the whole area a buzz,” says Peter.
The Boring Gallery, located at 19 Taupō Quay, will be open every day 10am-4pm up until the Christmas holiday period. Mark the date 2 January in your calendar for the grand re-opening of The Boring Gallery in 2026.
