Tauranga Moana Collections is an opportunity to view a selection of the treasures from the art collections of Tauranga Art Gallery and Tauranga City Council (Civic Art Collection). Many of these works have been generously gifted by significant donors, or by some of Aotearoa New Zealand’s leading contemporary artists for future generations to enjoy.
Since Tauranga Art Gallery’s inception, important relationships have evolved with patrons such as Jacqueline Bullmore, whose bequest endowed the Edward Bullmore Collection of over 300 artworks that have rarely been seen by the public. The Gallery’s oldest acquisition was an artwork by Betty Wishart Untitled (Hagley Park) painted in the 1940’s and acquired in 2004 as a gift from Sally Barnett. The newest artwork The Beauty was gifted in 2019 by exhibiting local artist Natasha Cousens.
The Tauranga Civic Art Collection has also seen major gifts of artwork by New Zealand’s leading contemporary artists donated to the City. This includes a gift to the ‘Tauranga Museum’ from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade in 2002 - Don Binney, Te Henga, 1965 and Light study with clouds and dunes No.1, 1970 by Brent Wong.
This exhibition represents a snapshot of life in Tauranga Moana, reflecting on our region, past and present, culture and people. Tauranga Moana has a rich history and it is often artists who scratch beneath the surface of the scenery to reveal the stories that need to be told.
Image credit: Tracey Williams, Phantasyland (detail), 2003
