An Ancestor at My Table is a collaborative exhibition by Auckland couple Penny Howard (Ngāpuhi, Te Mahurehure, Celtic) and poet Doug Poole (Tulaele, Samoa, European). Through their combined ancestries and artistic practices, they explore the complexities of family, identity, and cultural heritage.

Penny's visual works focus on the repatriation of lost and stolen Māori Taonga Tūturu, bringing these ancestors back to the whānau table through art. This act of reclaiming and reunification is a powerful gesture of resistance and healing. Doug's poetry is deeply rooted in his Sāmoan ancestors, particularly the profound bond he shared with his Nana Edwina, whose stories and legacy continue to shape his understanding of family and identity. His words also respond to Penny's practice, weaving together their experiences as a couple and artists.

The title An Ancestor at My Table takes on a sense of activism and advocacy, asking questions about ownership, belonging, and the rightful place of ancestors within their families and communities. By bringing these ancestors to the table, Penny and Doug are sparking a conversation about cultural heritage, identity, and the ongoing effects of colonisation. Through their collaborative practice, they demonstrate the strength and resilience that comes from honouring and reconnecting with their ancestors – and, in Penny's case, bringing the lost and stolen ones into their life, so that they may have the chance to be seen again by their own whānau.