On Show 7 December to 22 February

Bill Hammond (1947–2021) is widely recognised as one of Aotearoa New Zealand’s most original and influential painters. His practice, spanning more than four decades, moves seamlessly between styles, subjects and mediums, yet always retains a voice that is unmistakably his own. Serenading Imagined Worlds surveys Hammond’s entire career, tracing his journey from an inventive young artist to a figure whose works became cultural touchstones, shaping the way we in Aotearoa see our own histories, myths and landscapes.

Bill Hammond:

Serenading Imagined Worlds

On show 8 March to 17 May 2026

In 2025, nearly 30 years after being sent to Mildura to live with family and work in an orange orchard, Kalisolaite ‘Uhila returned to the city during a residency. His time there in 1997 became a turning point: instead of fruit picking, his aunt and uncle sent him back to school, where he encountered subcultures and, crucially, art, setting him on a new path. Returning to Mildura, ‘Uhila reflects on how labour, masculinity, and care continue to shape his practice. Through durational performances such as Fakahoko, he transforms everyday acts into meditations on endurance and kinship.

Kalisolaite ‘Uhila:

Koe Tenga tete to tete Utu pe koia

On show 22 Feb to 17 May 2026

In his first exhibition dedicated solely to painting, Ammon Ngakuru creates ambiguous spaces where comfort and unease quietly coexist. In Telltale (a dog), motifs shift and dissolve, blurring interior and exterior, memory and observation. Resisting easy interpretation, the works invite viewers to sit with uncertainty — to feel rather than fully understand. Presented in association with Te Ahurei Toi o Tāmaki Auckland Arts Festival 2026.

Ammon Ngakuru:

Telltale (a dog)

On show 8 Mar to 3 May 2026

Avtar Singh rebuilds everyday printed and digital material — from magazines to online images — through meticulous drawing. Recreating each page by hand, she forms an archive shaped by repetition, time, and vibrant material sensitivity. Her works transform familiar imagery into something slowly constructed through colour, pressure, and touch. Born in Te Awamutu, Singh now lives in Tāmaki Makaurau and has attended Māpura Studios since 2021.

Avtar Singh:

I Just Like to Draw

On show 22 Mar to 7 June 2026

Taniwha are among the most profound figures in te ao Māori as guardians, ancestors, warnings, and guides. Kahurangiariki Smith (Te Arawa, Tainui, Takitimu, Horouta and Mataatua) illustrates these ancestral beings not as mythical curiosities but as living presences inhabiting the gallery space. Through digital animation, bedazzled velvet, sparkles and stars, Smith, in her nostalgic y2k aesthetic, pays close attention to the multiplicity of taniwha and their role in our daily lives.

Kahurangiariki Smith:

Kai a te Taniwha

Education Programmes and Workshops

Te Uru offers engaging learning opportunities for every art enthusiast. With scenic views of the surrounding landscape, our purpose built pokapū akoranga learning centre is an inspiring setting for learning how to make and think about art.

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