Gallery to be involved in prestigious Venice art event

Christchurch Art Gallery is currently preparing to deliver a significant exhibition at an international arts event, held bi-annually in Venice, Italy.

The Gallery has been appointed by Creative New Zealand as its delivery partner for La Biennale di Venezia. This involves the curation of Aotearoa New Zealand’s national pavilion – the country’s official exhibition at the event.

The new partnership ensures the project’s day-to-day management is overseen by a partner with extensive expertise in the curation and delivery of large-scale exhibitions.  

This is a strong and practical approach to maintaining Aotearoa New Zealand’s presence at Venice, says New Zealand’s Commissioner for the Venice Biennale and Arts Council Chair Kent Gardner. 

“We’re thrilled to have a partner with the expertise and vision to deliver an excellent presentation at Venice following on from 2024’s historic number of invited New Zealand artists,” he says. 

Artist Fiona Pardington will work with Christchurch Art Gallery to curate New Zealand's official exhibition at the 2026 Venice Biennale.

For the 2026 national pavilion, the Gallery has chosen to work with esteemed artist Fiona Pardington MNZM (Kāi Tahu, Kāti Mamoe, Ngāti Kahungunu, Clan Cameron of Erracht).

Gallery Director Blair Jackson is delighted the gallery is working with such an exceptional artist. 

"Fiona has an impressive history of practice that spans more than four decades,” he says.  

“She is rightly renowned for the emotional intensity of her photographs and responsible for some of the most memorable images in contemporary Aotearoa New Zealand artmaking. Her ability to convey the intangible makes viewing her works a powerful and exhilarating experience.”

After first drawing recognition in the 1980s, Ms Pardington’s work has continued to evolve, most often operating within, and extending, the still-life genre.

Her evocative photographs of taonga and other objects from museum collections are sharply attentive to context and history while retaining an elusive quality.

Ms Pardington says being asked to exhibit in Aotearoa New Zealand’s national pavilion in Venice is an unexpected and extraordinary moment in her career. 

“I am deeply honoured and humbled by this incredible opportunity to represent Aotearoa at the Venice Biennale. I am profoundly grateful that my work is appreciated like this and for all the people furiously paddling the waka who have brought me to this point. Ehara taku toa i te toa takitahi, engari he toa takitini,” Ms Pardington says.

Mr Jackson says the Gallery’s experienced and highly skilled team is looking forward to supporting Ms Pardington’s exhibition within this special context, to bring the art of Aotearoa to an international audience.

“Creative collaboration with artists is what powers us as an institution, and it’s a privilege to be able to set the direction for 2026,” he says.  

Stephen Wainwright, Creative New Zealand’s Chief Executive, says Christchurch Art Gallery has had a long association with Venice.  

“The Gallery’s team has been affiliated with Aotearoa New Zealand’s presence at the Biennale for many years, including in 2009, 2011, and 2013 when former director Jenny Harper was the Commissioner.”

 “It’s great to build upon this history, while creating an opportunity for New Zealand curators to work in the extraordinary and historic environment of the Venice Biennale,” says Mr Wainwright.  

More information and detail about Fiona Pardington’s project will be shared later in 2025.