Take a break from hot days with cool art this summer

There’s so much art to enjoy at the Gallery right now so plan a visit to immerse yourself in the coolest cultural spot in the city. 

Whāia te Taniwha 

The ground floor is home to this major exhibition is steeped in history and rich storytelling traditions.  

From the bright and bold to the eerie and evocative the incredible works on display in this major exhibition will give you new insights into who and what taniwha are and can be.  

Unutai E! Unutai E!  

Directly opposite you’ll find the newest addition to the Gallery, exploring the deteriorating state of fresh water across the Ngāi Tahu takiwā (territory) through powerful photographs by Anne Noble.  

Encounter portraits and personal narratives from claimants, environmental advocates and mana whenua, reflecting on the changes they’ve seen in waterways during their lifetimes.   

Raymond McIntyre: A Modernist View 

Head upstairs and take a step back in time to the early 20th century. Raymond McIntyre’s small-scale paintings and prints are full of energy, looseness and spontaneity.  

This is the first comprehensive survey of his work in more than 30 years – don’t miss your chance to see it.  

Living Archives 

Next door you’ll find Living Archives – an exhibition bringing art history to life. What’s the connection between pop art by Andy Warhol and a sketch from French impressionist Degas?  

This exhibition reveals the links between three of Christchurch’s most important art historians and works from the Gallery’s permanent collection.  

Buck Nin Green Valley 1965. Acrylic on board. Collection of Christchurch Art Gallery Te Puna o Waiwhetū, transferred from Christchurch City Libraries Ngā Kete Wānanga-o-Ōtautahi collection, 2025

He Kapuka Oneone – A Handful of Soil 

On the other side of the Gallery’s upper level, you’ll find an incredible collection of works that have a relationship with people and land in Aotearoa New Zealand.  

Ranging from the beautiful to the confronting, and from the subtle to the spectacular, they offer new ways of looking at and thinking about the whenua. 

Kā Whakatauraki: The Promises 

And nestled within He Kapuka Oneone – A Handful of Soil see the 10 Ngāi Tahu land sale purchase deeds for the first time since their signing in the mid-1800s.  

These documents illuminate the promises made and the injustices wrought upon Ngāi Tahu by the Crown during a critical period in Aotearoa New Zealand’s history. They provide powerful context for the many works within He Kapuka Oneone – A Handful of Soil that respond to the history of colonisation in this country. 

Te Mauri o te Puna 

And just when you think you’ve seen it all, there’s more. As you exit the building check out the sculpture adorning the outside of the “bunker” – which houses the lift and stairs to the gallery’s underground carpark.  

Te Mauri o te Puna by acclaimed Kāi Tahu artist Areta Wilkinson evokes plants animals and insects and connects with the nourishing spring referenced in Te Puna o Waiwhetū – the name of the Gallery building.