Canterbury has a thriving arts scene, with ultra-talented local veteran and newcomer artists filling Greater Christchurch's many galleries. Here's our pick of spots to get your fill of art works.
Christchurch Art Gallery Te Puna o Waiwhetū
Start with the city’s public gallery, an impressive glass-fronted building in Montreal Street where you’ll find everything from the classics to contemporary works. The gallery’s All Art All Summer season brings Kiwis face to face with work from local artists. Exhibitions include Christchurch-based sculptor Graham Bennett’s Seeking a Balance, Te Waipounamu object maker Areta Wilkinson’s Moa-Hunter Fashions, and rarely-seen historic art in As Time Unfolds.
Fiksate
The bridge between the streets and the galleries, Fiksate is an urban art hub unlike anything else in the country. It’s gritty, it’s on the edge, and it’s just a real cool space to be in. You’ll find it in Gloucester Street until the end of December when the gallery will be moving to a new home.
Windsor Gallery
Having been in the business for over 100 years, Windsor Gallery has kept up with the times and sports an excellent collection of contemporary original works works from over 30 artists, including Joel Hart, Andris Apse, Anneke Bester, Svetlana Orinko, and Ivan Clarke’s Lonely Dog series.
CoCA
The Centre of Contemporary Art Toi Moroki, better known as CoCA, is run in Gloucester Street by Canterbury Society of Arts Charitable Trust to foster people’s connection and appreciation for modern art. This summer season includes Drawing Room, alternative architectural drawing by Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland-based architects Aaron Paterson, Sarosh Mulla and Marian Macken; as well as Tongpop Nostalgia, in which Pōneke Wellington-based artist Telly Tuita explores his cultural identity.
Jonathan Smart Gallery
Jonathan Smart has proven to be an important part of the Christchurch arts scene, showcasing a wide range of contemporary art and supporting artists in the city. Through the summer, his gallery in Sydenham is displaying works by South Island-based Kristin Stephenson.
The Central Art Gallery
This dealer gallery in the beautiful Arts Centre Te Matatiki Toi Ora library building displays works by established and sought-after New Zealand artists, so you know you’ll see top-quality art. The main exhibition this summer is Fractured Mind by glass artist Emma Camden.
RightSide Gallery
Don Service is the talent behind RightSide Gallery in Addington, where you’ll discover more than just paint on canvas. It’s a showroom and workshop where Don creates and repairs art, makes frames, and takes commissions. Don loves to work with solid timber, steel, rust and plywood. Alongside Don’s own work, RightSide exhibits art from talented, motivated and cool artists from around the country including Rachel Rush and Glen Jorna alongside locals like Dr Suits, Joel Hart and Charles Hannah.
Nadene Milne Gallery
This Hereford Street gallery is a showcase of contemporary New Zealand artists working in oil painting, abstract painting, sculpture, photography, installations and mixed media. The first exhibition of summer is painter Séraphine Pick’s Untethered.
LEstrange Gallery
Run by local artist Bryan LEstrange, and located just back from the beach in Sumner, LEstrange displays original works by well-known and significant painters, sculptors and printmakers including veteran Lyttelton-based artist Jason Greig.
Little River Gallery
A compulsory stop on any summer road trip to Akaroa, Little River Gallery features fine art, sculpture, crafts and jewellery made by local artists. The corrugated steel country-architecture building also houses a delightful café.