A rare opportunity to have dinner with and hear artist Reuben Paterson speak in conversation with Dina Jezdic. A bespoke menu has been created for this event with elements of Reuben’s practise represented in the menu. A set menu will be provided.
This event requires prepayment and the cost is $139 per head. Limited seats available. Reuben Paterson will be showing new work at the Fair with Bergman Gallery.
Payment details will be sent to you on RSVP.
As part of Aotearoa Art Fair 2026, WALL Real Estate invites you to tour a brand new architectural home in Herne Bay – a unique experience of art and architecture in context. Hosted by and featuring a curated, contemporary selection of works from The Arts House Trust, the largest private collection in Aotearoa, this exclusive viewing will showcase a selection of standout pieces from the collection within a refined residential setting, to highlight the dialogue between contemporary art, design, and everyday living
The Arts House Trust stewards an archive of over 9,000 artworks, holding one of Aotearoa New Zealand’s largest private art collections. As an independent charitable entity, the Trust champions contemporary artists, while ensuring the long-term preservation and public accessibility of its collection.
As part of Aotearoa Art Fair 2026, WALL Real Estate invites you to tour a brand new architectural home in Herne Bay – a unique experience of art and architecture in context. Hosted by and featuring a curated, contemporary selection of works from The Arts House Trust, the largest private collection in Aotearoa, this exclusive viewing will showcase a selection of standout pieces from the collection within a refined residential setting, to highlight the dialogue between contemporary art, design, and everyday living.
The Arts House Trust stewards an archive of over 9,000 artworks, holding one of Aotearoa New Zealand’s largest private art collections. As an independent charitable entity, the Trust champions contemporary artists, while ensuring the long-term preservation and public accessibility of its collection.
Te Haerenga – The Journey in Te Reo Māori is a collection whose goal is activated and directed patronage in the contemporary art scene of Aotearoa New Zealand. Since 2019, under the guidance of collection curator Hamish Coney, the kaupapa of Te haerenga is the mahi toi of emerging women abstract artists. Today the collection numbers over twenty works by artists including Raukura Tūrei, Emma Fitts, Maioha Kara, Jenna Shin, Tia Ansell, Imogen Taylor, Jade Townsend, Salome Tanuvasa, Ella Sutherland, Julia Morison and other leading contemporary artists. Over half of the works in the collection have been acquired at past Aotearoa Art Fairs.
Join the directors of patrons Capital Group and curator Hamish Coney who will discuss the genesis of the collection, review the journey over the last six years and articulate the aspirations of Te Haerenga in the future.
Please note this VIP tour takes place in a working office so prompt attendance is appreciated.
Join us at cocktail hour to celebrate Hye Rim Lee’s Gold Rose, blooming boldly at the entrance of Esther as Part of the Aotearoa Art Fair Sculpture Trail. With the artist in residence, cocktails poured, and her Rose works unveiled. We’ll see you at Esther Bar for art, conversation, and a little gold-dipped indulgence.
Chris Wise will describe his 2026 journey as a Nock Art Foundation artist-in-residence in the awe-inspiring landscape of Queenstown. Working plein air producing this series specifically for Aotearoa Art Fair, these artworks represent a significant moment of cross-Tasman artistic exchange -an Australian painter shaped by the physical and elemental realities of place. These artworks carry the imprint of Otago itself – created on New Zealand soil for a New Zealand audience.
Booth 49
This event is free to all ticket holders and does not require an RSVP.
Raised in Dunedin New Zealand, Gabby will describe how studying ceramics at Otago art school led her to move to Australia as a practicing artist, working mostly in 2-dimensional watercolour – until recently returning to her ceramic practice in 2025 led her back home to NZ and to Aotearoa Art Fair, Auckland. Gabby will also describe how her work represents her hybrid transracial background as a Chinese adoptee, raised by a white family in New Zealand, now living on Gadigal land in Sydney, Australia.
Booth 49
This event is free to all ticket holders and does not require an RSVP.
Jane Ussher MNZM, widely recognised as one of New Zealand’s foremost portrait and documentary photographers, reflects on “the unusual, the hidden, and the minutiae” within the historic Antarctic hut of Robert Falcon Scott, in conversation with Milford Galleries.
Booth 30
This event is free to all ticket holders and does not require an RSVP.
A rare opportunity to view one of New Zealand’s best corporate art collections at the leading commercial law firm, Russell McVeagh. The list of artists displayed here reads like a who’s who of New Zealand’s artistic landscape and includes artists such as Ralph Hotere, Ann Robinson, Stehpen Bambury, Michael Parekowhai, Yvonne Todd, Fiona Pardington, Shane Cotton, Ian Scott, Julian Dashper, Don Binney, Dick Frizzell, Karl Maughan, Emma McIntyre and many more.
Auckland University Professor, Linda Tyler will guide you through this extensive collection. Linda has taught art history at Canterbury, Victoria, Waikato and Auckland universities, and at Unitec and Otago Polytechnic, and been an art curator at Waikato Museum, the Hocken Library and Gus Fisher Gallery. Since 2018 she has been in charge of the Museums and Cultural Heritage programme at the University of Auckland.
Join New Zealand’s public art expert Deborah McCormick on a guided walking tour of the Aotearoa Art Fair Sculpture Trail. Meet participating artists along the way and join in conversations about their installations.
Presented by Viaduct Harbour Holdings Ltd, in partnership with Aotearoa Art Fair and association with Auckland Live, proudly supported by the City Centre Targeted Rate, the Sculpture Trail transforms Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland’s iconic waterfront into an open air gallery – bringing contemporary art into a public space.
This tour begins outside the Viaduct Events Centre.
For more information and map visit viaduct.co.nz/artfair
Join Japanese artists Yoshiko and Shintaro Nakahara at SANDERSON for an exclusive VIP preview of the exhibition ‘Flowing Through’, with champagne and petit cakes by Atelier Shu to celebrate.
A rare opportunity to visit Gibbs Farm, the private sculpture park of Alan Gibbs. The self-guided sculpture walk includes major works by international artists such as Sol LeWitt, Anish Kapoor, Daniel Buren, Ralph Hotere and Richard Serra.
A charge of $175pp covers transport and lunch to and from Gibbs Farm.
8.30am check-in at The Cloud.
3.30pm bus returns to The Cloud.
An icon of the Aotearoa art scene, Jeffrey Harris lives in Dunedin and has exhibited his painting widely since his first one-person show in 1969. His recent work is figurative in style, revolving around the themes of the crucifixion, the self-portrait and the figure in the landscape.
Your chance to meet Jeffrey and view his new works at the exhibition opening at {Suite}.
Alexander McKenzie, a highly regarded figure in Australian landscape painting, will be at the Martin Browne Contemporary booth to discuss his work and practice, which sits between memory and imagination. Drawing on classical European traditions, his paintings focus less on depicting place and more on evoking mood, light, and an inner sense of time.
Booth 26
This event is free to all ticket holders and does not require an RSVP.
Lissy & Rudi Robinson-Cole are partners in art-making and in life. Their artworks explore mātauranga Māori and the importance of ancestral knowledge through crocheted woollen sculpture. To date the artists’ largest and most ambitious project has been Wharenui Harikoa (House of Joy), a full-size crocheted meeting house created in collaboration with whanau, community and international textile artists. Predominantly self-taught artists, together their unique crocheted sculptural creations make a unique and vibrant contribution to the conversations about the boundaries between craft, object art and conventional fine arts at present. Come hear the conversation as they talk with Nigel Borell about their art practice and future ambitions.
Booth 19
This event is free to all ticket holders and does not require an RSVP.
Step into the world of The Huxleys as Will & Garrett share insight into their vibrant photographic practice. Known for their bold visual language and signature sparkle, The Huxleys will take you inside their creative process. Exploring their practice of blending sparkle, surrealism and the absurd to celebrate the beauty of nature and queer love, their work captures the surreal sparkling beauty of two queer lovers refusing to descend into the darkness. Join us for this opportunity to hear Will & Garrett speak on their work before catching their performance at the fair.
Booth 12
This event is free to all ticket holders and does not require an RSVP.
After her recent success across Europe, China, Australia and Miami, Ebony Russell will be joining us at the Martin Browne Contemporary booth to present new works and discuss her artistic practice.
Booth 26
This event is free to all ticket holders and does not require an RSVP.
A conversation between Tim Melville and Tendai Mutambu, Director of Enjoy Contemporary Art Space, about Areez Katki’s recent overseas exhibitions and ongoing work around experimental storytelling.
Booth 27
This event is free to all ticket holders and does not require an RSVP.
Join Bronte Leighton-Dore at the Martin Browne Contemporary booth and hear her explain her practice and the works she has made for the Aotearoa Art Fair.
Booth 26
This event is free to all ticket holders and does not require an RSVP.
A roving spectacle of gender fluid creatures, queer wizardry and costumes evoked from the surreal beauty of the natural world. A moving, comical tableaux of performance art and absurdity.
Will and Garrett Huxley (Aus/Gumbaynggirr/Yorta Yorta) are Australian based collaborative visual and performance artists. The Huxleys are a dynamic duo of cataclysmic proportions who present queer spectacle and disco enthused wizardry across the visual art, performance and fashion worlds. Their photography and performance art traverses the classifications of costume, film and recording. A visual assault of sparkle, surrealism and the absurd, The Huxleys saturate their practice and projects with a glamorous, androgynous freedom which sets out to bring some escapism and magic to everyday life. Since 2014 The Huxleys have performed, exhibited and participated in numerous exhibitions, projects and events in Australia, and internationally in London, Berlin, Moscow, New York, Arles and Hong Kong.
A valid ticket is required to view this event. Buy tickets online.
