Wellington’s Best Independent Galleries

Wellington isn’t just the centre of New Zealand’s government – it’s also the country’s cultural capital. Artists have long gravitated to the city for the nourishment offered by its independent galleries, theatre and music scene.

This trend has also benefited visitors and art lovers, making Wellington the perfect place to kick-start or add to an art collection. Buying direct from galleries is the best way to support artists, and most offer lay-by or interest-free loans.

You’ll find most galleries on or around bohemian Cuba Street, so you can tick off several in one outing if you wish, and still leave time to visit the second-hand bookstores, record shops, and cafes nearby.

Jhana Millers
Gallerist Jhana Millers has quickly become a pivotal player in Wellington’s creative scene, helping uncover many new artists. An accomplished artist herself, Millers opened her gallery in 2018 and has around 10 national artists on her books, as well as Australian painter Lucy O’Doherty.

The gallery is located on the first floor of the heritage listed Mibar building on Victoria Street, with large windows and a striking, somewhat brutalist concrete ceiling. Millers is always happy to have a chat and help you navigate through the sometimes murky waters of the art-collecting world to find something that suits both your taste and budget.

Female artists are well represented. Hanging until May 1 2023 are beautiful still-life paintings by Māori artist Ayesha Green, who’s just finished a residency at the prestigious McCahon House. Other artists whose works are available via catalogue are Claudia Kogachi, a talented painter who turned to rug tufting during Covid; abstract portrait painter Hannah Ireland, and sculptor Elisabeth Pointon.

Bartley & Company Art
Enigmatic and engaging art abounds at this long-standing Wellington gallery, which has recently moved from Ghuznee Street to more spacious premises on Garrett Street, in the Cuba Precinct.

Founded by gallerist Alison Bartley in 2009, Bartley & Company Art holds a new exhibition every month or so, showcasing works from both emerging and established contemporary New Zealand artists. Around 20 artists are represented by the gallery, including sculptors Mary-Louise Browne and Brett Graham, and Māori video artist Rachael Rakena.

Showing from March 7 until April 7 2023 is Emily Hartley-Skudder’s exhibition, Vanity Factory, which sets domestic objects and scenes into marbled, resin-cast wall hangings and oil paintings, subverting notions of home life and consumerism. There’s also a comprehensive online catalogue, allowing you to browse and purchase artworks from previous exhibitions.

Robert Heald Gallery
Left Bank is a pedestrian alleyway off Cuba Mall (near the famous Bucket Fountain) and a popular haunt for locals seeking a fix of alternative culture. Walk down the end and head upstairs to your right to find Robert Heald Gallery, an off-the-radar nook housing contemporary art from both New Zealand and Australian artists.

Opened 12 years ago by art dealer Robert Heald, the gallery has substantially bolstered the Wellington art scene, luring exciting young artists such as Patrick Lundberg, Sonia Lacey and Richard Frater, a New Zealander who regularly exhibits overseas and examines conceptual perspectives of urban landscapes in his work.

Exhibitions often purposely contrast against each other, resulting in thought-provoking juxtapositions. This gallery is where many artists get their first break, so it’s a great place to make a savvy investment.

McLeavey Gallery
Peter McLeavey was New Zealand’s pioneering art dealer, opening a gallery at 147 Cuba Street in 1968, and establishing Wellington’s strong reputation for contemporary art. McLeavey died in 2015, but his daughter Olivia McLeavey is continuing his legacy of nurturing artists. The gallery is still in the same building, a cosy space with a large, curved window that presides over busy Cuba Street.

Artworks tell the stories of New Zealand: what it is to be New Zealander and how New Zealanders see themselves. Drop in to see works by acclaimed photographer Laurence Aberhart, multi-media abstractionist Mark Braunias, sculptor and ceramicist Cheryl Lucas, and many more. Opening in March 2023 is Sour Grapes, a solo show by photographer Ben Buchanan, which examines Māori culture and ideas against Western traditions.

{Suite} Art Gallery
Established in 2007 by David Alsop, {Suite} is a spacious, street-front gallery in Cuba Street, with a sculpture yard at the rear. The gallery represents both New Zealand and international artists, including Jeffrey Harris, Tia Ansell, Wayne Youle, Richard Lewer, Angela Singer and Daniel Unverricht.

New Zealand photographer Ans Westra also has a dedicated space at {Suite}, where visitors can browse through her extensive archive of images, prints, books, and articles dating back to 1960. You can also view the stock room (behind the main gallery space), where many works are available for sale.

This article is produced in partnership with Wellington NZ.