The Fair
Aotearoa Art Fair, presented by ANZ Private and Auckland Council Events, is New Zealand’s premier art fair, bringing together an exceptional range of practices from emerging voices to established artists, connecting them with collectors, curators, museum directors, and art enthusiasts from across Aotearoa and Australia.
Set in Auckland, the Fair takes place at the Viaduct Events Centre, a premier waterfront venue on the Waitematā harbour. In 2026, more than 60 galleries presented work by over 200 artists, offering visitors a dynamic view of the most compelling modern and contemporary art from the region.
Under the ownership of the organisers of international art fairs Sydney Contemporary, Art SG, and Art Central Hong Kong, the Fair’s organisers leverage international expertise and their vast network of connections.
Whether you’re a seasoned collector, occasional buyer, or just curious about art, this is your opportunity to browse and buy from hundreds of works. From painting to sculpture, print to ceramics, there’s something for everyone at the Aotearoa Art Fair.
The Team
Tim Etchells
Owner
Tim Etchells has spent the last 30 years creating and managing events and fairs all over the world. From The Good Food Shows to London Fashion Week to Art HK, Tim has worked in numerous different industry sectors across different countries. In 2008 Tim developed the idea to stage Art HK which became the largest art fair in Asia, and is now under the ownership of MCH and renamed Art Basel Hong Kong. In 2013, Tim launched Sydney Contemporary. Tim’s art fair portfolio includes ART SG (Singapore), Taipei Dangdai (Taiwan) and Art Central (Hong Kong). In 2016 Tim received two separate Lifetime Achievement Awards from the UK Exhibition industry.
Jo Duncan
CEO
Jo Duncan brings extensive experience to Aotearoa Art Fair from launching and working across a range of high-profile consumer events. Jo helped launch events in new markets globally, including the Good Food and Wine Shows across Australia. Jo has worked on a range of other events across Australia, the UK and Asia including Sydney Contemporary, London Fashion Week, Melbourne Art Fair, Fashion Week Sydney, Taste of Sydney and Melbourne, the Affordable Art Fairs and Better Homes and Gardens Live. Jo oversees all operational, marketing and gallery needs for Aotearoa Art Fair.
Lyn Moran
Finance Director
Lyn Moran has more than 20 years’ experience leading events across international markets, spanning finance, partnerships and operations. She began her career in film and television, working on The Amazing Race and The Real Housewives franchises, before producing major live events in Australia and the United States. From 2018 to 2022, she was General Manager of Sydney Contemporary, overseeing strategic direction, financial performance and operations. Now based in the United States, Lyn leads business and financial strategy across the company’s Australian and New Zealand portfolio, and supports the financial strategy of fairs in Singapore, Taiwan and Tokyo. Her leadership combines a collaborative approach with strong commercial focus.
Sue Waymouth
Fair Director
Sue has held senior marketing roles in New Zealand and overseas including New Zealand Funds Management, Chase Bank (UK) and Alvern Media (UK). For the past decade, she has run her own marketing consultancy and has focused on supporting the arts. She has held governance roles as a Trustee of The Michael Hill Violin Competition and is the Co-Chair of the Contemporary Benefactors, a philanthropic tier of the Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki. Alongside her Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Commerce from Otago, Sue has recently completed a Graduate Diploma in Arts at Auckland University.
Kate Gillespie
VIP Relations Manager
Kate became the Talks Program Coordinator for Aotearoa Art Fair in 2024 and has since transitioned into the role of VIP Relations Manager. After earning a Bachelor of Laws and a Bachelor of Arts (Art History) from Otago University, Kate worked in investment banking and later as a buyer in the fashion industry. Over the past decade, she has managed her own property development and interior design business while also volunteering with the Red Cross on refugee resettlement. Additionally, Kate serves on the Contemporary Benefactors Advisory Committee, a philanthropic branch of the Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki.
Bonnie Lee
Marketing Manager
Bonnie is a marketing and communications specialist working across Aotearoa Art Fair and Sydney Contemporary, Australia. With a Bachelor of Fine Arts and experience spanning curatorial and communications roles within public galleries and arts organisations, she brings a strong understanding of the contemporary art sector to her work. Her work spans digital marketing, content strategy and creative campaign development, with a focus on growing audiences and finding new ways to connect people with contemporary art. She is particularly interested in the role of storytelling in making contemporary art more accessible and engaging.
Lucy Armstrong
Fair Coordinator
Lucy joined Aotearoa Art Fair following a career in marketing, events, and retail management with one of New Zealand’s leading beverage brands. She holds a Bachelor of Design, majoring in Photography, from Massey University, and previously ran her own freelance photography business, working with a diverse range of public and private clients. Lucy has held various sales and administrative roles across the hospitality and events industries. Passionate about connecting people through art and culture, she brings a dynamic blend of creative and commercial experience to the Aotearoa Art Fair team.
Felicity Letcher
Operations Manager
Felicity Letcher brings more than 30 years of operational experience across film, television, theatre, and large-scale live events to Aotearoa Art Fair. For two decades, she co-owned and ran Main Reactor, a creative workshop servicing film, television and commercial clients, overseeing everything from budgets and staffing to delivery on tight production schedules. She has worked as a producer, production manager and creative operations lead, managing complex events and productions from planning through to delivery. Felicity has held governance roles with Red Leap Theatre, Silo Theatre, Film Auckland, Depot, and Nightsong Productions, and is the founder of Iris Creative, which supports artists and arts organisations in building sustainable practices. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in English and Politics from the University of Auckland and a Diploma of Drama.
The Selection Committee
Natasha Conland
Senior Curator, Auckland Art Gallery
Natasha has over nineteen years’ experience developing exhibitions of contemporary art. She writes for a number of contemporary arts journals and catalogues in the Asia Pacific region and co-edits Reading Room, a peer-reviewed journal of contemporary art published annually by the E.H. McCormick Research Library, Auckland Art Gallery. She has diverse interests which have focused over this period on art in public space and the dissemination of the historic avant-garde.
Kate Darrow
Curator, Public Art Projects
Kate is the Curator and Collection Manager at Waikato Hospital Art Trust, a position she has held since 2021. With over two decades of experience as an Independent Curator and Art Consultant, Kate has worked on numerous public art projects and for private clients. Early in her career, Kate held senior roles in the public art gallery sector, including Lopdell House Gallery, Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tamaki and City Gallery Wellington Te Whare Toi. Kate is passionate about promoting contemporary art that connects with and inspires diverse audiences.
Kim Paton
Director, Objectspace
Kim Paton has been the Director of Objectspace since 2015. Her interest is in interdisciplinary exhibition making across the fields of craft, design, architecture and contemporary art. Paton has curated and written extensively on object-based art forms including the 2023 exhibition The Chair: A story of design and making in Aotearoa. Recent writing includes essays for Cheryl Lucas: Shaped by Schist and Scoria (Christchurch Art Gallery Te Puna o Waiwhetū, 2022) and David Straight: Locations of Interest (Objectspace, 2023). Paton is co-author up the upcoming book Hook Hand Heart Star: Warwick Freeman published by arnoldsche Art Publishers (2025).
