Event Calendar EVENT CALENDAR All Dates Thursday 1st May Friday 2nd May Saturday 3rd May Sunday 4th May All Locations Talks Theatre, Viaduct Events Centre TBC Viaduct Events Centre All Categories Artist Talks Let's Talk Art Opening Night Tour VIP Programme Filter Clear Opening Night Opening Night Thursday, May 1, 2025 5:00 PM - 9:00 PM Viaduct Events Centre Celebrate with thousands of art lovers at the Fair Opening Night! Artist Talks Greer Clayton presented by Parnell Gallery Friday, May 2, 2025 11:15 AM - 11:30 AM Viaduct Events Centre A discussion centred around painting the landscape in order to capture the ‘mood’ and ‘feel’ of a place. Artist Talks Nephi Tupaea presented by Tim Melville Friday, May 2, 2025 11:30 AM - 12:00 PM Viaduct Events Centre A conversation between Tim Melville and Ngāti Kahungunu artist Nephi Tupaea. Tour The Love and Lust of Collecting Tour with Graeme Douglas Friday, May 2, 2025 11:30 AM - 12:15 PM Viaduct Events Centre Graeme will provide a tour visiting six dealer booths, at each booth sharing one of his key guiding principles to collecting in relation to a specific artist or gallerist. His goal will be to make you think more broadly about the process of acquisition and provide or reinforce your confidence in being a collector. Artist Talks Teresa HR Lane presented by MD Gallery Friday, May 2, 2025 11:30 AM - 12:00 PM Viaduct Events Centre Join us to hear renowned Tai Tokerau artist Teresa HR Lane discuss her new body of work "Mine to Mine". Let's Talk Art Art Through Time – The Burden of the Past and the New Zealand Painter Friday, May 2, 2025 12:00 PM - 12:45 PM Talks Theatre, Viaduct Events Centre How does a contemporary artist engage with the legacies of their modernist predecessors? Join Gretchen Albrecht and Kenneth Brummel as they engage in a lively exchange about Gretchen’s relationship to her modernist precursors. Artist Talks Edward Waring presented by Gallery Sally Dan-Cuthbert Friday, May 2, 2025 12:00 PM - 12:30 PM Viaduct Events Centre Join Edward Waring, New Zealand-born Australian-based artist, as he discusses his unique approach to creating sculpture and design pieces. Artist Talks Michael McHugh presented by Martin Browne Contemporary Friday, May 2, 2025 12:30 PM - 1:00 PM Viaduct Events Centre Please join us to hear Michael McHugh in conversation with Martin Browne. Tour Emerging Art Highlights Tour with Becky Hemus Friday, May 2, 2025 12:45 PM - 1:30 PM Viaduct Events Centre Join Becky Hemus, editor of The Art Paper and curator of Horizons presented by Chapman Tripp, for an exclusive tour of the Fair, uncovering the freshest emerging talent and some cutting-edge contemporary art. Artist Talks Nicholas Blowers presented by Nanda\Hobbs Friday, May 2, 2025 1:00 PM - 1:30 PM Viaduct Events Centre Nicholas Blowers explores his deep connection to both local and personal landscapes, discussing his methodology, process, and compositional practice to achieve his intricate depictions of nature. Artist Talks Author Talk: Mark Forman Friday, May 2, 2025 1:00 PM - 1:30 PM Viaduct Events Centre Meet the author of 'Tony Fomison: Life of the artist'. Let's Talk Art Kōrero – Contemporary Māori Art Friday, May 2, 2025 1:30 PM - 2:15 PM Talks Theatre, Viaduct Events Centre How are Māori artists shaping the global art scene today? Join us for an inspiring conversation about Māori arts recognition on the global stage and the influential contributions Māori artists are making to the international art world today. Moderated by gallerist Tim Melville, with speakers Lisa Reihana, Nephi Tupaea, Nikau Hindin. Artist Talks Jack Hadley presented by Laree Payne Gallery Friday, May 2, 2025 2:00 PM - 2:30 PM Viaduct Events Centre Please join us for an in-conversation talk between Ruth Minh Ha (Curatorial Assistant, Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki) and Gallery Artist, Jack Hadley. Artist Talks Vincent Ward presented by Milford Galleries Friday, May 2, 2025 2:00 PM - 2:30 PM Viaduct Events Centre Join Vincent Ward as he explores the origins of the works from the Palimpsest series: Forms reused or transformed into something new, yet carrying the ghost of their original form. Artist Talks Emma Hercus presented by Railway Street Gallery Friday, May 2, 2025 2:30 PM - 3:00 PM Viaduct Events Centre Emma will discuss her attachment to figurative works, the inspiration and compulsion to explore the characters that exist in her life, past and present. Artist Talks Jonathan Dalton presented by Nanda\Hobbs Friday, May 2, 2025 3:00 PM - 3:30 PM Viaduct Events Centre Discovering Universal Metaphors in Painting. Jonathan Dalton discusses the practice of harnessing universal metaphors in painting; symbols and arrangements that transcend time and place, speaking to a shared human experience and the construction of unique narratives. Let's Talk Art Art, Architecture and how to Live Best with Both Friday, May 2, 2025 3:00 PM - 3:45 PM Talks Theatre, Viaduct Events Centre How does art shape and enhance architecture and interiors? Hear from three expert panellists on how art shapes and enhances their architecture and interior design work. Moderated by Jeremy Hansen with speakers Mike Stiff, Sonja Hawkins and DJ Tai. Artist Talks Heidi Brickell presented by Laree Payne Gallery Friday, May 2, 2025 3:30 PM - 4:00 PM Viaduct Events Centre Hear Heidi Brickell in conversation with Hanahiva Rose (Curator Contemporary Art, Te Papa) as they discuss the body of work Heidi has made for the Aotearoa Art Fair including the artists' unique approach to painting and the motifs which continue to re-appear within the work. Artist Talks Emily Parker, director of PARKER Contemporary Friday, May 2, 2025 4:00 PM - 4:30 PM Viaduct Events Centre A discussion led by Director, Emily Parker, exploring the works on show and the significance of contemporary printmaking today. Artist Talks James Drinkwater presented by Nanda\Hobbs Friday, May 2, 2025 4:30 PM - 5:00 PM Viaduct Events Centre James Drinkwater delves into his intuitive painting process, reflecting on how travel, history, family and lived experiences shape his dynamic compositions. Artist Talks Elliot Love presented by Parnell Gallery Saturday, May 3, 2025 11:15 AM - 11:30 AM Viaduct Events Centre An overview of the artist's overall process, narrative about the individual paintings on view. Let's Talk Art Collecting Art at Home and Abroad Saturday, May 3, 2025 12:00 PM - 12:45 PM Talks Theatre, Viaduct Events Centre What does it take to build a truly dynamic and diverse art collection? Industry experts discuss the complexities of both the domestic and international art scene. Moderated by Andrew Smith with speakers Andrew Jensen, Kym Elphinstone and Mary Vavasour. Artist Talks Nikau Hindin presented by N.Smith Gallery Saturday, May 3, 2025 12:30 PM - 1:00 PM Viaduct Events Centre Artist Talk with Nikau Hindin in the N.Smith Gallery booth, discussing her solo presentation for the Fair. Tour Curators Fair Highlights Tour with AD Schierning & James Gatt Saturday, May 3, 2025 12:45 PM - 1:30 PM Viaduct Events Centre Join Te Uru Director AD Schierning and Te Uru Curator James Gatt for a guided tour of the Fair. Unpacking selected highlights, Schierning and Gatt will discuss what draws them to certain works and how they operate within broader lineages and discourses of art. Artist Talks Author Talk: Mark Forman Saturday, May 3, 2025 1:00 PM - 1:30 PM Viaduct Events Centre Meet the author of 'Tony Fomison: Life of the artist'. Artist Talks Emily Hartley-Skudder presented by Jhana Millers Saturday, May 3, 2025 1:00 PM - 1:30 PM Viaduct Events Centre Join artist Emily Hartley-Skudder as she discusses "Petite Spa", her 2025 Fair presentation with Jhana Millers. Artist Talks Robyn Penn presented by Artor Contemporary Saturday, May 3, 2025 1:30 PM - 2:00 PM Viaduct Events Centre Robyn Penn's new body of large works explores the visualization of energy through intuitive painting techniques and expressive mark-making. Let's Talk Art Paererewā – the 1,000 Year Bench Project Saturday, May 3, 2025 1:30 PM - 2:15 PM Talks Theatre, Viaduct Events Centre What if we could create spaces that encourage reflection and connect us to future generations? Paererewā is founded on this very idea, with a vision to establish 1,000 markers for reflection that will last 1,000 years. Sam Johnson will moderate this talk, featuring speakers Hideaki Fukutake, Kim Paton, and Madhav Kidao. Tour The Art of Mark Making and Collecting Tour with Sue Gardiner Saturday, May 3, 2025 1:45 PM - 2:30 PM Viaduct Events Centre Join Sue Gardiner as she weaves her way through a trail of drawn lines and energetic marks created in works around the Fair booths. Artist Talks Leila Jeffreys presented by OLSEN Gallery Saturday, May 3, 2025 2:00 PM - 2:30 PM Viaduct Events Centre Leila Jeffreys will be joined by a representative from a local wildlife conservation agency to discuss the intersection of art and environmental preservation, and the vital role we all play in protecting New Zealand’s unique avian species. Artist Talks Emily Parker, director of PARKER Contemporary Saturday, May 3, 2025 2:30 PM - 3:00 PM Viaduct Events Centre A discussion led by Director, Emily Parker, exploring the works on show and the significance of contemporary printmaking today. Tour First Time at the Fair Tour with Linda Tyler Saturday, May 3, 2025 3:00 PM - 3:45 PM Viaduct Events Centre Step into the vibrant world of contemporary art with First Time at the Fair, a guided tour led by renowned New Zealand art historian, curator, and academic Linda Tyler. Whether you're an art fair first-timer or simply curious to see things through expert eyes, this tour offers an engaging, insightful, and welcoming introduction to navigating the fair. Artist Talks Elliot Collins presented by Black Door Gallery Saturday, May 3, 2025 3:00 PM - 3:30 PM Viaduct Events Centre Join us for a Meet the Artist and Artist Talk with Dr. Elliot Collins, where he will share insights into his practice and the deep connection between text, landscape, and memory in his work. Artist Talks Lottie Consalvo presented by Nanda\Hobbs Saturday, May 3, 2025 3:30 PM - 4:00 PM Viaduct Events Centre Exploring the invisible: Art beyond the physical. Lottie Consalvo explores the unseen, the internal, and the limitless. She invites viewers to engage with the subconscious, reflecting on the mind’s capacity to construct alternative ways of being and reject materialism in favor of mindfulness. Let's Talk Art Quiz! So You Think You Know About Art Saturday, May 3, 2025 3:30 PM - 4:15 PM Talks Theatre, Viaduct Events Centre Welcome, art enthusiasts! Join our panel of art aficionados for a game show-style quiz. It’s the perfect opportunity to learn things they don’t teach you in art history. Quizmaster Charles Ninow will be joined by contestants Jamie Te Heuheu, Ayesha Green, and Lydia Cowpertwait. Artist Talks Peter Gardiner presented by Nanda\Hobbs Saturday, May 3, 2025 4:30 PM - 5:00 PM Viaduct Events Centre Myth, landscape and the sublime. Peter Gardiner examines the relationship between landscape, history, and myth in his work. He explores how the natural world serves as both subject and metaphor, evoking themes of time, transformation, and the sublime. Artist Talks Katherine Throne presented by SANDERSON CONTEMPORARY Sunday, May 4, 2025 11:00 AM - 11:30 AM Viaduct Events Centre Hear Katherine Throne and Dr Linda Tyler discuss Katherine Throne's practice and the power and importance of the flower in contemporary art practice. Tour First Time at the Fair Tour with Linda Tyler Sunday, May 4, 2025 11:30 AM - 12:15 PM Viaduct Events Centre Step into the vibrant world of contemporary art with First Time at the Fair, a guided tour led by renowned New Zealand art historian, curator, and academic Linda Tyler. Whether you're an art fair first-timer or simply curious to see things through expert eyes, this tour offers an engaging, insightful, and welcoming introduction to navigating the fair. Artist Talks Prue MacDougall and Nan Mulder presented by Railway Street Gallery and Studios Sunday, May 4, 2025 11:30 AM - 12:00 PM Viaduct Events Centre Light Reactive - a demonstration of the Intaglio solar plate printmaking process. Let's Talk Art The Art of Collecting Photography Sunday, May 4, 2025 12:00 PM - 12:45 PM Talks Theatre, Viaduct Events Centre Photography is one of the most accessible and dynamic art forms to collect, but where do you begin? In this insightful session, hear from seasoned collectors and industry experts as they share their experiences, tips, and strategies for building a meaningful photography collection. Moderated by gallerist David Alsop with speakers Hamish Coney and Sally Dan-Cuthbert. Tour The Love and Lust of Collecting Tour with Graeme Douglas Sunday, May 4, 2025 1:30 PM - 2:15 PM Viaduct Events Centre Graeme will provide a tour visiting six gallery booths, at each booth sharing one of his key guiding principles to collecting in relation to a specific artist or gallerist. His goal will be to make you think more broadly about the process of acquisition and provide or reinforce your confidence in being a collector. Let's Talk Art From Passion to Profession, How to Thrive as an Artist in 2025 Sunday, May 4, 2025 1:30 PM - 2:15 PM Talks Theatre, Viaduct Events Centre How can you make your mark as an artist in 2025? Hear from a top curator, artists and architectural designer on how to showcase your work, grow your audience, and build a career you’re proud of. Moderated by Natasha Conland with speakers Raukura Turei, Jude Rae and Brett Graham. Let's Talk Art The Art of Protection – Preserving and Managing Collections for the Future. Sunday, May 4, 2025 3:00 PM - 3:45 PM Talks Theatre, Viaduct Events Centre Every artwork has a story—but how do you ensure that story lasts for generations? Whether you’re new to collecting, an art enthusiast or a collector, join us for an insightful look at how to look after your art at home. Moderated by Ben Ashley with speakers Maddie Gifford and Giulia Scott.