Pulling out highlights from the 2026 edition of the Aotearoa Art Fair 2026 is no easy task. With dozens of galleries and an incredible breadth of work on show, there’s plenty to take in – and even more to fall in love with.
To help cut through it all, we asked Annabel Davidson to share what’s stood out to her this year. A leading voice in the jewellery world, Annabel brings a sharp eye and deep appreciation for craftsmanship, materiality and meaning – making her highlights all the more worth paying attention to.
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Highlights to look forward to at the Aotearoa Art Fair 2026
Neke Moa
I’ve long admired her work, but the first time I wore a piece (borrowed from Season gallery for the Fashion Quarterly awards) – I finally fully understood its inherent power. People stopped mid sentence to stare. Her work is extraordinarily hand crafted, but what I love most is that she has a very distinctive aesthetic and colour palette but every piece feels like a new artwork. It’s such a rich exploration of Maori and Pacifica cultural motifs but with her own modernised take. Both to wear and have on display. Also, I hung out with her and her partner Paula recently and they’re the raddest.
Grace Wright
I had the pleasure of meeting John Gow recently and we talked all things art for hours. I love his very open-minded view on art, his humour and his depth of knowledge so when he mentioned Grace Wright, I immediately looked her up and fell in love.
Joe Sheehan
My hero. I first discovered Joe’s work through a jewellery lens but his Surface Tension exhibition at Tim Melville Gallery was like a dream. I bought two pieces and spend an inordinate amount of time moving them whenever small people come over. Just an enormous talent and an enormously nice man.
Scott Perkins
I’m just a sucker for Aotearoa landscape photography and the colours and mood of this work mesmerise me.
Ruth Ige
I know nothing about her and have abstained from googling but this piece feels so familiar and soothing and I don’t know why.
LETS TALK ART: Kōrero – Contemporary Māori Art
Since returning home to Aotearoa two years ago I’ve mainly bought art by contemporary Maori artists. I think it’s partly because being away from home for 20 years, Maori motifs felt like the strongest, most familiar symbols of my homeland, and now I get to see it everywhere I’m spoilt for choice, but mainly because the pieces that most excite me tend to be by contemporary Maori artists. Melanie Baldwin, Tia Ranginui, Jade Townsend, Star Gossage – they’re all artists whose works make my heart soar.
Kōrero – Contemporary Māori Art Friday 1 May, 1:30PM.
LETS TALK ART: Collecting Objects – Design Made to Collect
Kim, Jade, Jasmin? Three women I adore. I don’t know Grant but I’m sure I’d love him, but if there are any three women whose opinion I care about its theirs and I will be front row, clapping like a lunatic.
Don’t miss Collecting Objects – Design Made to Collect on Sunday 3 May at 12PM.
Aotearoa Art Fair returns to the Viaduct Events Centre from 30 April – 3 May. Tickets are on sale now.
