Essays


A monthly series featuring new independent writing on contemporary art.

Commissioned by the Aotearoa Public Gallery Directors’ Network (APGDN) and published on ArtNow.NZ with support from Creative New Zealand Toi Aotearoa New Zealand and member galleries of the network. For information about Essays click here.


Essays has been made possible through the support of Creative New Zealand Toi Aotearoa and members of the Aotearoa Public Gallery Directors’ Network (APGDN). APGDN is an informal consortium of publicly funded galleries from throughout Aotearoa New Zealand the directors of which meet occasionally to share knowledge and advice about their operations and find collective means to improve their organisations’ visibility, support the arts ecosystem in Aotearoa New Zealand, and foster audience engagement. The idea to establish a digital platform for good, independent art writing in partnership with ArtNow.NZ was conceived during the 2020 lockdown due to the COVID pandemic.



Participating Galleries


  • Adam Art Gallery Te Pātaka Toi, Victoria University of Wellington
  • Aratoi Wairarapa Museum of Art and History
  • Artspace Aotearoa
  • ArtsPost Galleries & Shop
  • Blue Oyster
  • Christchurch Art Gallery Te Puna o Waiwhetū
  • City Gallery Wellington Te Whare Toi
  • Dunedin Public Art Gallery
  • Enjoy Contemporary Art Space
  • Govett Brewster Art Gallery / Len Lye Centre
  • Gus Fisher Gallery, The University of Auckland
  • Te Whare Toi o Heretaunga – Hastings City Art Gallery
  • New Zealand Portrait Gallery Te Pūkenga Whakaata
  • Objectspace
  • Pātaka Art + Museum
  • Sarjeant Gallery Te Whare o Rehua Whanganui
  • Tauranga Art Gallery Toi Tauranga
  • Tautai
  • Te Manawa
  • Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa
  • Te Tuhi
  • Te Uru Waitākere Contemporary Gallery
  • Te Wai Ngutu Kākā Gallery | Auckland University of Technology
  • The Dowse Art Museum
  • The Physics Room
  • The Suter Art Gallery Te Aratoi o Whakatū
  • Waikato Museum - Te Whare Taonga o Waikato
  • Wairau Māori Art Gallery
  • Whirinaki Whare Taonga
  • Toi Mahara