Exhibitions
Events
On display
Curator Talk: Pickaxes and Shovels
Emily Harper Christchurch from near the Gloucester Street Bridge 1857. Watercolour. Collection of Christchurch Art Gallery Te Puna o Waiwhetū, gift of the Acland family 2016
Talk
Past event
Meet at the front desk
Free
Curator Peter Vangioni discusses the Canterbury colonial narratives behind the historical works in his new show Pickaxes and Shovels.
Related reading: Talk, Free event
Exhibition
Pickaxes and Shovels
5 August 2018
See the lives of the early settlers and Kāi Tahu tangata whenua in this selection of extraordinary works by frontier Pākehā artists.
Collection
Emily Harper Christchurch from near the Gloucester Street Bridge
Emily Harper arrived in Lyttelton with her family in 1856. Aged twenty-six, she was the eldest of fifteen children of Christchurch’s first Anglican Bishop. She painted this view of the fledgling town in the following year. Emily left Christchurch in 1860 after marrying ex-London barrister John Acland (younger son of a British politician and baronet), who had taken up sheep farming in the Canterbury high country.
(Out of Time, 23 September 2023 – 28 April 2024)
Event
Hawkins by Rata Lovell-Smith
Join guide volunteer guide Susan Bidwell as she discusses Rata Lovell-Smith's Hawkins in From Here on the Ground on the first floor.
Event
Taranaki by Christopher Perkins
Join curator Ken Hall as he discusses Christopher Perkins's Taranaki in From Here on the Ground on the first floor.
Event
Sign Language Tours
Celebrate Sign Language Week and take a free guided tour of our exhibition highlights with one of our guides and a sign language interpreter.
Event
Oh Baby, It's Art!
A free, guided art tour especially for parents with babies. Buggies welcome.
Event
Art Safari
A chance for pre-schoolers to paint, glue, print, stamp and colour without making a mess at home. Art Safari is designed for our youngest budding artists between 2-4 years old.
Event
Late Night Tour
Take a free guided tour of our exhibition highlights with one of our friendly, knowledgeable guides.
Event
Introduction to the Gallery Tour
Take a free guided tour of our exhibition highlights with one of our friendly, knowledgeable guides.