How about stepping into a realm where art tells the story of a nation? That’s precisely what awaits you at the Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki. It stands as the principal public gallery in Auckland. It holds the most extensive collection of national and international art in New Zealand.
Established in 1888, the Auckland Art Gallery was the first permanent art gallery in New Zealand. Imagine this: the building initially housed both the art gallery and the Auckland public library. It opened its doors with collections generously donated by Governor Sir George Grey and James Tannock Mackelvie. This marked a significant moment. It was only the second public art gallery in New Zealand. The Dunedin Public Art Gallery opened three years prior.
Many Aucklanders in the 1870s felt their city needed an art collection. The Auckland City Council hesitated to commit funds. Sir Maurice O’Rorke and others pushed for a combined Art Gallery and Library. This became a reality through bequests from Sir George Grey and James Tannock Mackelvie. Grey’s donation included over 12500 items. Among these were 53 paintings plus rare books. Mackelvie gifted 105 framed watercolours and oil paintings. Eventually, his gift totalled 140 items. These included paintings, decorative arts, ceramics, and furniture.
Initially, the Auckland Gallery collection featured European old master paintings. Today, it has grown to include diverse periods and styles. The collection now holds over 15000 artworks. New Zealand and Pacific artists are well-represented. You’ll also find European art spanning from the Middle Ages to the present. Artists like Gretchen Albrecht and Colin McCahon have extensive representation.
Henry Partridge, an Auckland businessman, donated a collection of Māori paintings by Gottfried Lindauer in 1915. His condition was that Aucklanders raise 10000 pounds for the Belgium Relief Fund. They raised the money within weeks. Lucy Carrington Wertheim supported Frances Hodgkins. Wertheim gifted 154 works by modern British artists. This included pieces by Christopher Wood and Alfred Wallis.
Rex Nan Kivell donated prints in 1953. These included works by George French Angas and others. The 1960s brought the Watson Bequest. This was a collection of European medieval art. In 1997, the Chartwell Collection came to the Auckland Art Gallery on long-term loan. By 2022, it held over 2000 items.
Dame Jenny Gibbs has long supported the Auckland Art Gallery. She and her husband gifted Colin McCahon’s 1974 painting “Comet (F8, F9, F10)” in 1987. Dame Jenny also gifted Gordon Walters’ “Genealogy 5”. She did this in tribute to Chris Saines in 2022.
In 2009, Julian Robertson donated art valued at $115 million. This included works by Picasso and Dalí. It was the largest donation of its kind in Australasia. The Kitchener Street rooms were later named the Julian and Josie Robertson Galleries.
The Auckland Art Gallery joined the Google Art Project in 2012. This allowed people worldwide to view New Zealand art. The Auckland Art Gallery contributed 85 artworks to the project.
Originally, the main gallery building housed the City Council offices and public library. Melbourne architects Grainger & D’Ebro designed it. It was completed in 1887 in an early French Renaissance style. The Auckland Art Gallery building has a six-story clock tower.
From 1969 to 1971, the building underwent remodelling. A new wing and sculpture garden were added. In the late 2000s, an extension increased exhibition space by 50%. The Auckland Art Gallery re-opened on 3 September 2011.
The Auckland Art Gallery did not have a professional director until 1952. Eric Westbrook was the first full-time director. Peter Tomory succeeded him in 1955. In 1981, Rodney Wilson became the first New Zealand-born director.
Throughout its history, the Auckland Art Gallery has hosted significant exhibitions. “Claude Monet: Painter of Light” drew 175679 visitors in 1985. In 2020, “Toi Tū Toi Ora: Contemporary Māori Art” attracted over 191000 visitors.
The Auckland Art Gallery stands not only as a repository of art. It is a dynamic cultural hub. It reflects New Zealand’s history, its artistic achievements, and its place in the world. As you explore the Auckland Art Gallery, remember you’re walking through the heart of Auckland’s cultural identity.