Auckland is a city that rewards those who know where to look – beyond the obvious and into the neighbourhoods, galleries, and quiet corners that give it its real character.
Dan Ahwa, curator of Horizons at the 2026 Fair, is an Auckland-based creative director, journalist, curator and stylist with over two decades of experience at the forefront of fashion and culture. But beyond the professional, Auckland is simply home for Dan – and these are the places he’s loving at the moment.
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After a day of exploring the Aotearoa Art Fair, where would you go for dinner and drinks to continue the evening?
The team at Gilt Brasserie know how to take care of you after a day immersed in the best that the Aotearoa Art Fair has to offer. A table by the window, a view of the world drifting past, and a well-made dirty martini set the tone for an easy, unhurried wind-down.
From there, head to Juno in Ponsonby for a fried chicken sandwich and a few more cocktails, before taking a leisurely stroll toward Karangahape Road to catch some fresh air. To finish, settle in at Frog Bar for a relaxed nightcap – the perfect final note to a full day of art, food, and wandering.
Juno, Ponsonby. Image courtesy Juno.
What exhibitions coincide with the Aotearoa Art Fair that you recommend to someone visiting the city?
I’d make the short trip from the CBD to the tranquil surrounds of Te Uru Waitākere Contemporary Gallery to see Kalisolaite ‘Uhila’s exhibition Koe tenga tete to tete utu pe koia (on until May 16), thoughtfully curated by Anja Lückenkemper. It’s a deeply personal and quietly moving body of work, reflecting on his formative years in Mildura—where themes of labour, identity, masculinity, and care unfold through performance, sculpture, and shared storytelling.
Back in the city, Tim Melville Gallery also has a compelling line-up, including Te Hiringa o Matiti – a vibrant presentation of new work by Ngatai Taepa (Te Arawa, Te Āti Awa) and Saffronn Te Ratana (Ngāi Tūhoe), partners in life as well as in art, whose collaborative energy brings a warmth and vitality to the space.
Kalisolaite ‘Uhila, Koe tenga tete to tete utu pe koia at Te Uru Waitākere Contemporary Gallery
If you have friends visiting from outside of town, what are you adding to their itinerary?
Some of my essential recommendations include spending time with a few special galleries – like the Bergman Gallery for a considered overview of Pacific art, or heading south to Ōtara to visit Fresh Gallery Ōtara, followed by something soulful and satisfying from the iconic Ōtara Markets nearby.
If you have time, drive west to Karekare for a hike – it’s a beautiful way to immerse yourself in the coast’s wild, windswept terrain. On your way back, a steak and cheese pie from Beabea’s Bakery; it’s the perfect post hike treat.
For shopping, stop by iconic local menswear store Strangely Normal on O’Connell Street, then head to Parnell at Tala for dinner, where Henry Onesemo is serving up one of the most exciting menus in town.
Do you have a favourite public art installation or mural in the city? What makes it special?
As a kid, I was always enamoured by Richard Deacon’s Nobody Here But Us (1991), located beneath the glass and steel canopy of the Federal Street forecourt at 135 Albert Street. A continuous loop of boxed aluminium that can almost be mistaken for tangled bronze, the work was commissioned by ASB Bank for its new headquarters, and I’ve always loved the way its meandering, organic form contrasts with the surrounding hard-edged 1990s architecture.
I remember passing through that space and thinking about power dressing, tailoring, and presence – and for someone with a soft spot for rigorous tailoring, the sculpture still feels like a quiet reminder of that idea: structure meeting fluidity, discipline softened by movement.
I also love The Lighthouse by Michael Parekowhai, the life-sized 1950s-style house on Queens Wharf that you can explore from the outside and through its windows, revealing a luminous interior filled with reflective surfaces and constellations of neon light.
Michael Parekowha, The Lighthouse
A gallery, studio or space that shouldn’t be missed right now?
I’m always impressed by the cross-disciplinary and immersive approach at Objectspace, and I think it’s another great gallery space that always deserves a visit.
Objectspace, image courtesy Neat Places
Best place to get a sense of Auckland’s landscape or light?
Head up to Michael Joseph Savage Memorial Park at Bastion Point, a beautifully elevated spot just above Mission Bay where sweeping, iconic views stretch across the Waitematā Harbour. It’s a place I love for its calm, open atmosphere – perfect for pausing, taking in the landscape morning or afternoon, and briefly feeling like you’ve got your life in perspective – ideally with a ham and cheese baguette from L’Atelier du Fromage in hand.
A hidden gem?
Not exactly hidden, but definitely not the first place people think of – and remember from my uni days. Old Government House and its surrounding parklands have a quiet, old-school charm that I really love. It’s my go-to spot for a cup of tea and a toasted sandwich, where you can sit among the trees and feel, at least for a moment, vaguely academic without actually having to do any of the reading.
Learn more about Dan Ahwa’s Horizons presentation at the Fair here
Aotearoa Art Fair returns to the Viaduct Events Centre from 30 April – 3 May. Tickets are on sale now.
Kalisolaite ‘Uhila, Koe tenga tete to tete utu pe koia at Te Uru Waitākere Contemporary Gallery
Kalisolaite ‘Uhila, Koe tenga tete to tete utu pe koia at Te Uru Waitākere Contemporary Gallery
