The University of Auckland Art Collection

The collection began in 1966 with the acquisition of a painting and two drawings by Colin McCahon. Since then the collection has acquired some major works by significant New Zealand artists, including Gretchen Albrecht, Don Binney, Neil Dawson, Pat Hanly, Frances Hodgkins, Paul Hartigan, Ralph Hotere, Colin McCahon, Milan Mrkusich, Gordon Walters, John Weeks, Robin White and Toss Woollaston.

A valuable teaching resource

The collection is an invaluable resource for teaching, learning and research. Postgraduate research on the collection has included a thesis on its own history as an entity, monograph exhibitions on individual artists, and surveys of the relationship of the evolution of the collection to the development of Auckland’s dealer galleries, resulting in the exhibitions and publications Vuletic and His Circle (about the Petar/James Gallery) in 2003 and New Vision Gallery in 2008.

Individual works from the collection are reproduced in books, serials and on websites as well as being loaned for exhibition to art galleries and museums around the country and in Australia, making the collection an asset which is valued nationally as a key part of New Zealand’s cultural heritage.

A valuable contribution to public art in Auckland

Two recently acquired artworks have become part of a public art initiative in Auckland: a dozen works situated within what planners have deemed The Learning Quarter, an inner city precinct encompassing Albert Park, The University of Auckland, AUT and surrounding streets and neighbourhoods. Read more

"From the collection"

A series of articles by CNZARD staff on individual works in the collection, published in the University's fortnightly newsletter UniNews. Browse From the collection

More information

Andrew Clifford
Centre for NZ Art Research and Discovery
Phone: +64 9 373 7599 ext 86806
Email: a.clifford@auckland.ac.nz