Te Papa holds New Zealand’s national art collection, whose origins date back to 1865 and the establishment of the then Colonial Museum (later the Dominion and then the National Museum). Built up over the years by a succession of directors and curators, the collection’s 40,000 works track New Zealand history and the art movements within it. In this generous book, Te Papa’s curators and a wide range of other expert art writers showcase the strengths of the New Zealand art collection by discussing around 270 works. From very early colonial work through to recent acquisitions, and including photography, their essays offer insights into the art, the artists and the context and issues that drove them. The book is complemented by biographies of all the featured artists, making it a valuable resource.

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