The Gallery runs a programme of regular and special events, often related to the exhibitions throughout the year.
Most events are free of charge and open to all ages unless otherwise indicated.
Have a go at portraiture in a relaxed setting with our free monthly drawing sessions.
Attend in the Gallery or online via Zoom.
Join Moana Nepia Curator of Selwyn Muru: A Life’s Work to learn more about Selwyn Muru’s diverse and multidimensional creative practice.
Join us in the Gallery for Frances McWhannell’s kōrero about the Fletcher Trust Collection and the current exhibition Gathered Voices.
Have a go at portraiture in a relaxed setting with our free monthly drawing sessions.
Attend in the Gallery or online via Zoom.
A special ‘live cinema’ event to mark Te Pūtake o te Riri, He Rā Maumahara – our national day of commemoration of the NZ Land Wars. The Te Kooti Trail (1927) will be accompanied with live taonga pūoro interpretation by Jerome Kavanagh Poutomo and pianist Deakin Palmer.
New Zealand Portrait Gallery Te Pūkenga Whakaata is delighted to co-present this screening and live taonga pūoro performance with Ngā Taonga Sound & Vision in support of the exhibition He Riri Awatea: Filming the New Zealand Wars and the National Library E Oho! Waitangi 2022 series.
New Zealand Portrait Gallery Te Pūkenga Whakaata is delighted to co-present this screening of Utu Redux with Ngā Taonga Sound & Vision in support of the exhibition He Riri Awatea: Filming the New Zealand Wars . This screening will be introduced by cinematographer Graeme Cowley and filmmaker Dame Gaylene Preston.
Ngā Taonga Sound & Vision have partnered with us to present a screening of the behind-the-scenes documentary about the making of legendary 1983 film Utu inspired by the New Zealand Wars.
Stay on for a kōrero with director Dame Gaylene Preston and Annabel Cooper.
Have a go at portraiture in a relaxed setting with our free monthly drawing sessions.
Attend in the Gallery or online via Zoom.
Lecture by Judge Arthur Tompkins on the persistent myth of highly skilled gentleman art thieves who steal Old Masters for their private enjoyment, followed by a cocktail reception .
Filmmakers approach history in many ways - feature film, and short film formats of various kinds, fiction and non-fiction. All must deal with the fact that they are telling stories that concern real people and real histories, even if sometimes in fictional form. In this session the speakers tell some of their own stories and address some of the perspectives they bring to the larger questions of how to make screen histories.
The New Zealand Portrait Gallery Te Pūkenga Whakaata is hosting panel of speakers to share their knowledge of the New Zealand Wars; and to discuss how to deliver this historical content in a respectful, intersectional way that cares for and empowers Tangata whenua, Mātauranga Māori, Pākehā and Tau iwi.
Have a go at portraiture in a relaxed setting with our free monthly drawing sessions.
Attend in the Gallery or online via Zoom.
Join Curators Annabel Cooper and Ariana Tīkao in their exhibition He Riri Awatea: Filming the New Zealand wars.
Come into the Gallery and be first to hear who the community has voted as our People’s Choice Winner for 2022!
Watch the full video recording of the lecture below.
Video filmed by Nathan Blundell.
New Zealand has a long history of powerful women and empowering women. With three female prime ministers, several female Governors-General, and Queen Elizabeth II as our Head of State, New Zealand has been led and represented by women. While the conventions of portraying leaders are well established, these are based on concepts and depictions of male power dating back to antiquity. Female monarchs and leaders have had to negotiate this tradition. On the one hand, they need to legitimize their power through an accepted language of power-portraiture, but also need to present themselves as women. From 'power suits' to symbolic jewellery, lipstick to haircuts, these details of a portrait of a woman in power are all carefully choreographed and scrutinized. This presentation asks how portraits of New Zealand's female leaders have engaged in this dynamic, taking in painted and photographic portraits, high art and campaign images, both official and informal. Considering the Commonwealth connections and portrait legacy of English female monarchs, the lecture will discuss portraits of British queens and prime ministers including Elizabeth II and Margaret Thatcher and underscore the distinctive features of portraits of New Zealand's female leaders from Dame Catherine Tizard to Jacinda Ardern.
Have a go at portraiture in a relaxed setting with our free monthly drawing sessions.
Attend in the Gallery or online via Zoom.
Haere mai, come and listen to the inspirational Wāhine toa Rosie Edwards in kōrero with artist and Adam Portraiture Award Runner up Gwyn Hughes.
Have a go at portraiture in a relaxed setting with our free monthly drawing sessions.
Attend in the Gallery or online via Zoom.
Click here to watch the full video of the opening speeches.
Haere mai and visit while these two extremely talented Adam Portrait Award finalists paint a life model in the Gallery. This is a great opportunity to observe the artist’s techniques and of course see them in action.
Have a go at portraiture in a relaxed setting with our free monthly drawing sessions.
Judges Linda Tyler and Karl Maughan discuss the judging process and their selections for the Award.
Watch the video here.
During this artist talk you will walk through the Gallery with David and Wiremu while they continue their conversation from the pages of the book Jellicoe & Bledisloe in the exhibition.
Image: Jellicoe & Bledisloe Book by David Cook. Photo by Sam Fraser 2022
Here you can watch Linda Tylers lively and informative talk on expatriate artist Raymond McIntyre. Linda has written about McIntyre for the Dictionary of New Zealand Biography and Te Ara, the online Encyclopledia of New Zealand. She is currently Convenor of Museums and Cultural Heritage at the University of Auckland.
Enjoy as she generously shares her research surrounded by McIntyre’s paintings in the Gallery. .
Saturday Sittings are back in the Gallery and online via zoom.
Booking is required for those attending in the Gallery to keep track of numbers.
Have you ever wondered what the Māori creation stories of the Pōneke (Wellington) area are? Have you wanted to learn but haven’t known where to look or who or how to ask?
Then nau mai haere mai, this event is perfect for you!
Te Pūkenga Whakaata, The New Zealand Portrait Gallery invites you to listen and learn some pūrākau (stories) of Te Whanganui a Tara. Ani Morris, Te Āti Awa, Ngāti Mutunga, Ngāti Kahungunu me Rangitāne is generously sharing some sacred stories of the whenua that have been passed on to her with those who attend this kōrero.
As part of the Threads and Textiles Festival, artist Ron Te Kawa will be presenting a workshop at the NZ Portrait Gallery.
Ron will be sharing how to create an upcycled original textile portrait of yourself (or who you wish to be!). This workshop is open to all ages, so bring the tamariki along!
If you can please bring your favourite bright fabrics, old clothes, blankets, linens, and any old textiles to create your fabric-mache artwork!
If you have a sewing machine you would like to use or some needle and thread, bring that also. If not, that is all good too - you will be fabric macheting with glues provided.
The Gallery will provide scissors, glue, some fabrics and materials and refreshments.
Facemasks and vaccine passes required.
Numbers are limited, so you will need to book a place in the workshop below.
If you missed out the first time or you would like another round, you are in luck !
Join artist Pippa Sanderson for her second watercolour painting workshop, inspired by her current Equivalent Exchange works in our Unfinished Portraits exhibition. Pippa will do a live demonstration, sharing how she creates her portraits, while participants will be provided with all the materials and guidance they need to create their own watercolour portrait.
Participants are encouraged to bring a photograph of someone they wish to paint a portrait of, perhaps an ancestor or a friend. It is also fine to use an image from your phone, the image just needs to be a portrait. The Gallery will provide some portraits from our collection participants can paint from also.
At the end of the workshop Pippa invites participants to share a cup of tea or coffee and some kai.
If you are a of Friend of the New Zealand Portrait Gallery enter the discount code WATERCOLOUR02 when you check out for half price off.
This is a ticketed event with a Maximum of 15 attendees.
Please wear a mask upon arrival, bring your Vaccine Pass and make sure to scan or sign in.
Join artist Pippa Sanderson for a watercolour painting workshop, inspired by her current Equivalent Exchange works in our Unfinished Portraits exhibition. Pippa will do a live demonstration, sharing how she creates her portraits, while participants will be provided with all the materials and guidance they need to create their own watercolour portrait.
