Arts & Culture
Arts & Culture in Parnell
Parnell contains seven commercial art galleries within a five-minute walk of each other – the densest gallery district walkable in New Zealand. This concentration has been built over 50 years of gallery culture in the suburb, beginning with the creative renaissance of the 1970s and deepening through the establishment of Artis Gallery (1988), Jonathan Grant Galleries, and subsequent additions to the gallery cluster. All galleries are free to enter, most operate Tuesday to Saturday, and all sell original New Zealand artwork across a range of media and price points.
Holy Trinity Cathedral runs a year-round programme of concerts, choral performances, and organ recitals on one of the largest pipe organs in the Southern Hemisphere. Public art is embedded in the streetscape through the Chorus cabinet art programme, public sculptures, and commissioned works along Parnell Road. For those seeking to buy New Zealand art, Parnell is the most practical and concentrated destination in the country.
Parnell Auckland is known as the most established art gallery precinct in Auckland with arguably the largest number of some of the best galleries in Auckland on a single street. The galleries regularly change their exhibitions and auction offerings plus there are some significant landmark sculpture pieces and public art to enjoy. Alongside the galleries, Parnell offers many historic and dynamic sculptures, each with a story to tell and known Auckland-wide.
Terry Stringer’s Mountain Fountain
One of Auckland’s best-known art works, Terry Stringer’s Mountain Fountain is situated in the grounds of the Holy Trinity Cathedral. Mountain Fountain is given prominence at its new location at the busy intersection of Parnell Road and St Stephens Avenue. At night, lighting dramatically showcases the sculpture against the Cathedral’s complementary roofline, giving Mountain Fountain a greater presence than it previously enjoyed at Aotea Square.
Mountain Fountain was removed from Aotea Square in October 2008, due to the square’s redevelopment. A decision was made to relocate the sculpture and after exploring a number of sites, the grounds of the Holy Trinity Cathedral, Parnell was supported by public feedback, the artist Terry Stringer, the Advisory Panel for Public Art and the Cathedral Council.
Address: Holy Trinity Cathedral, Cnr Parnell Rd & St Stephen’s Ave, Parnell
Domain Sculpture Walk
The eight sculptures you can view in the Domain were installed between 2004 and 2005, although the conversation around ‘raising awareness for Public Art’ occurred long before that,
Back in 1998 the New Zealand Lottery Grant Board called for projects to mark the new millennium. The Outdoor Sculpture 2001 Incorporated Society, which included Chiara Corbelletto, John Edgar, Charlotte Fisher, Fred Graham, Christine Hellyar, Neil Miller, Louise Purvis, and Greer Twiss, began to develop the idea of a sculpture walk in the Auckland Domain.
Each of the artists carefully considered their chosen site, and through their sculptures they referenced aspects of the history of the Domain. What we see now as we wander the beautiful expanse of Auckland Domain, are the finished works of the visionary sculptors who have gifted the public with their talent, to be enjoyed for decades to come.
Stained glass windows - Holy Trinity Cathedral
The Holy Trinity Cathedral has stained glass windows deserving of attention no matter what your denominational faith. They are stunning and when viewed in person, will take your breath away.
The window designers were required to meet a brief that set out to tell the story of God’s redeeming actions with his people through history to salvation and new life.
This was to be portrayed in a New Zealand context and symbolism of New Zealand’s cultures was required – quite a task in 18 panels. The brief was therefore incredibly selective and specific about the subject of each panel.
The windows are read in a semi-circular movement from the west (street) side of the nave. The journey begins at the Millennial window (Window 1) and culminates in the Baptistry window (Window 18) on the east side.
West windows 1 to 9 designed by Shane Cotton.
East windows 10 to 18 designed by Robert Ellis.
Les Harvey
Millionaire Les Harvey didn’t look like a wealthy property developer and wasn’t one for pretence or flashy clothes. But his legacy – the preservation of historic buildings in Parnell – is recognised with the placement of a statue in his honour in the middle of Parnell Village.
Les Harvey bought and restored a large area of dilapidated old houses and shops in Parnell which were converted into restaurants, cafes, craft shops and boutiques during the 1970s.
But he did more than just return buildings to their former glory, his son Kevin Harvey says.
“He added bits of magic to them. He used to love making things on a human scale. The garden and the steps he created, nothing was designed to denigrate people or make them feel small.”
Enjoy Parnell and take a moment to stop in Parnell Village and say ‘hi’ to Les.
Revolving Plinth, Jonathan Grant Galleries
Situated outside ARTIS Gallery & Jonathan Grant Gallery, at 280 Parnell Rd, is a dedicated sculpture plinth. The plinth was installed by Gallery owner, Jonathan Gooderham in 2013 to enable the Gallery to exhibit large scale sculptures in an outdoor setting. The plinth was specially designed to allow for the secure interchange of large-scale works. The plinth is illuminated at night and has become a key attraction in the Parnell area.
The Gallery has exhibited works by Terry Stringer, Llew Summers, Fatu Feu’u, Margaret Lovell, Anah Dunsheath, Josh Olley and Michael Smither. For more information about the sculpture plinth or to request information about the works exhibited please contact ARTIS Gallery.
Parnell's Gallery District - Why It Matters
Seven commercial galleries within a five-minute walk is a density of provision that does not exist anywhere else in New Zealand. In Auckland – a city of 1.7 million people – there is no other area where a visitor can walk between six genuinely distinct, professionally run galleries showing and selling original New Zealand art within a single short street. This concentration is the core reason to visit Parnell for art, and it is a credential that no marketing claim can substitute for.
The history behind this concentration matters. Commercial galleries began establishing in Parnell during the 1970s, as part of the suburb’s broader cultural renaissance. This gives Parnell a gallery tradition of more than 50 years – longer than any other Auckland suburb can claim. Over those five decades, the galleries have developed distinct identities, artist rosters, and audience relationships that make the district collectively richer than any individual gallery could be. The mix of emerging and established artists, the variety of mediums (painting, sculpture, ceramics, printmaking, jewellery as art), and the range of price points from accessible prints to significant original works means the district serves a genuinely broad collecting audience.
All Parnell galleries are free to enter and operate without sales pressure. This removes the barrier that deters many people from entering commercial galleries and makes Parnell’s gallery district accessible in a way that a ticketed museum or curated institution is not. The galleries are open to browsers, serious collectors, and first-time buyers equally.
Parnell Gallery
Parnell Gallery has just celebrated its 50th anniversary. Established in 1976, Sally Souness opened her first gallery at 263 Parnell Road, the same address the gallery occupies today. Anna Souness formally joined the business in 2011, bringing experience gained through her own career. Today she works alongside Sally as Co-Director. Parnell Gallery focuses on established New Zealand contemporary painters, with a programme that has earned consistent coverage in Metro and Viva arts sections – a credibility signal that reflects the gallery’s sustained engagement with the upper end of the NZ contemporary painting market. The gallery’s artist programme runs a regular exhibition cycle, with each show typically representing a single artist’s recent work.
The gallery’s track record of media coverage means it is among the more visible Parnell galleries to Auckland’s arts-literate readership, and its exhibitions are frequently cited in broader Auckland arts programming guides. For current exhibitions and viewing hours.
Artis Gallery
Address: 298 Parnell Road. Established 1988.
Artis Gallery is one of Auckland’s most established and regarded commercial galleries, representing approximately 40 New Zealand artists across painting, sculpture, and works on paper. The gallery holds eight to ten solo exhibitions per year, each running three to four weeks, giving it one of the most active exhibition programmes of any commercial gallery in New Zealand. The depth of the artist roster – spanning both senior figures in New Zealand contemporary art and mid-career practitioners – makes Artis a reliable reference point for the state of the NZ art market at any given time.
Opening hours: Tuesday to Friday 10am–5pm, Saturday 10am–4pm.
The gallery has been operating in the precinct for nearly four decades, accumulating the institutional knowledge and artist relationships that distinguish a serious gallery programme from a retail art operation. For current and upcoming exhibitions see the Artis Gallery page.
Jonathan Grant Galleries
Jonathan Grant Galleries is one of New Zealand’s longest-established commercial galleries, with a specialisation in established and mid-career New Zealand painters working in figurative and landscape traditions. The gallery’s programme reflects a commitment to the NZ art historical canon – it carries works by painters whose practice represents decades of sustained artistic development rather than emerging or experimental work.
Jonathan Grant also plays a role in the New Zealand secondary art market: the gallery handles estate sales, appraisals, and the resale of established works, making it a resource for collectors seeking to understand the value and provenance of existing NZ artworks as well as buying new. This secondary market function distinguishes it from galleries focused purely on primary sales of new work.
For current programme and viewing hours, see the Jonathan Grant Galleries page.
Black Door Gallery
Black Door Gallery presents a programme of contemporary New Zealand art with a particular focus on emerging and experimental artists – a distinct position within the Parnell gallery cluster, which skews toward established practitioners at most other venues. The gallery’s willingness to show less commercially certain work alongside more established names gives it a role in the discovery end of the NZ art market.
The gallery works across painting, print, mixed media, glassware and installation works, with an exhibition programme that turns over regularly and introduces new names to Parnell’s gallery-going audience. Price points tend toward the accessible end of the commercial gallery range, making Black Door a practical starting point for collectors building a first collection. For current programme and location.
The International Art Centre operates a model distinct from the other Parnell galleries: in addition to gallery exhibitions, IAC holds regular auctions of New Zealand and international art, making it a resource for collectors engaging with both the primary and secondary art markets. The auction model provides access to works that would otherwise be difficult to source – estate holdings, established secondary market pieces, and works from private collections.
IAC’s Invited Artists annual exhibition is a recurring highlight of the Parnell arts calendar – a curated group show that brings together artists from the gallery’s invited roster and functions as a significant end-of-year collecting event. For auction dates, current exhibitions, and artist information, contact the International Art Centre directly or see their listing at https://www.parnell.net.nz/directory-listing/international-art-centre/.
Alvin Pankhurst Gallery is the studio gallery of the late Alvin Pankhurst. His vivid, realist and surrealist paintings were the result of more than 50 years commitment to supreme excellence and the gallery still markets prints of his work. Check for opening ours directly with the gallery.
Kiwa Art, stocks traditional Maori and Pacific art and craft including wood carving, pounamu (NZ greenstone), bone carvings, tapa cloth, tribal jewellery and traditional artifacts. Owner Andrew Pendergrast has been trading in the traditional art of Austronesian cultures from New Zealand, the Pacific and Indonesia since 1989 after being inspired by a lengthy trip to Indonesia in 1987. Their extensive client base, excellent knowledge and many suppliers means they now have access to some exceptional pieces.
Foenander Galleries offers a distinct programme within the Parnell cluster, with a specialisation in New Zealand and Pacific art that includes strong Maori and Pacific artist representation. This focus makes Foenander the gallery most directly engaged with the art traditions of the Pacific region that Auckland occupies – a curatorial position of particular relevance to international visitors and to collectors interested in the breadth of New Zealand and Pacific artistic practice.
The gallery has hosted ‘The Daylight Show’ – a group exhibition that recognised Peggy Guggenheim’s pioneering spirit and her influential Daylight Gallery within “Art of This Century” in 1940s New York. For current programme, location, and hours, see parnell.net.nz/arts/foenander-galleries/.
Parnell’s public art programme is embedded throughout the streetscape and is accessible without entering any gallery or institution. From the renowned Terry Springer ‘Mountain Fountain’ at the top of Parnell Road you can meander down to the status of Les Harvey, considered the father of Parnell Village. Jonathan Grant Galleries features an external plinth which showcases different sculptures from time to time. The most recent public art piece is the ‘lifesavers’ in Heard Park, a nod to the Heard’s Candy Factory that used to occupy the site. The Chorus cabinet art programme is interspersed throughout Parnell and has transformed the electrical utility cabinets along Parnell Road into a series of commissioned artworks – painted surfaces by NZ artists that make the street itself an art walk. The cabinets are permanent, weather-resistant works that can be experienced on any visit to the street.
Promotions run by the Parnell Business Association reinforce the creative reputation of Parnell. Chines new year was celebrated with artistically decorated animals for each year, and the annual Beacons of Light profile two different artists each Christmas in Heard Park.
There are also several sculptures of note in The Domain. Each of the eight artists carefully considered their chosen site, and through their sculptures they referenced aspects of the history of the Domain. The walk can be conducted self-guided, and there are walking tours from time to time. https://www.parnell.net.nz/discover/parks-and-walks/
Holy Trinity Cathedral on Parnell Road is not only New Zealand’s largest cathedral and a significant heritage building – it is also an active arts and cultural venue, running a year-round programme of concerts, choral performances, organ recitals, and occasional art installations within its Gothic Revival nave.
The cathedral houses one of the largest pipe organs in the Southern Hemisphere – an instrument of significant musical capability that is central to the cathedral’s arts programming. The Cathedral Organ Festival is an annual event that draws organists and audiences from across New Zealand and internationally, and represents one of the more unusual musical events available to Auckland visitors.
Regular choral performances by the cathedral’s choir, visiting ensembles, and community choral groups are programmed throughout the year and are frequently free or low-cost to attend. The cathedral’s acoustic properties – a product of its stone construction and nave dimensions – make it one of Auckland’s better live performance venues for choral and chamber music. For the current events programme, see the cathedral’s listings at parnell.net.nz/arts/holy-trinity-cathedral-parnell/.
One of Auckland’s best-known art works, Terry Stringer’s Mountain Fountain is situated in the grounds of the Holy Trinity Cathedral. Mountain Fountain is given prominence at the busy intersection of Parnell Road and St Stephens Avenue. At night, lighting dramatically showcases the sculpture against the Cathedral’s complementary roofline, giving Mountain Fountain a greater presence than it previously enjoyed at Aotea Square.
The Holy Trinity Cathedral has stained glass windows deserving of attention no matter what your denominational faith. The 18 windows are read in a semi-circular movement from the west (street) side of the nave. The journey begins at the Millennial window (Window 1) and culminates in the Baptistry window (Window 18) on the east side.
The window designers were required to meet a brief that set out to tell the story of God’s redeeming actions with his people through history to salvation and new life. This was to be portrayed in a New Zealand context and symbolism of New Zealand’s cultures was required.
Buying New Zealand Art in Parnell
Parnell is the most practical place in New Zealand to buy original New Zealand art. The seven commercial galleries within the precinct collectively represent hundreds of New Zealand artists, across a price range that begins at accessible print and edition prices and extends to significant original works by major NZ artists. No other location in the country offers this breadth of buying opportunity within a single walkable precinct.
Entry-level buying in Parnell typically begins with limited edition prints and smaller works on paper – priced from a few hundred dollars at most galleries. Mid-range original works by established and emerging painters are available from approximately $1,000 to $10,000 at galleries including Artis, Parnell Gallery, and Black Door. Significant works by senior New Zealand artists – those with an established auction record and critical standing – are available at the higher end of the market through Artis and Jonathan Grant Galleries.
Buying from a commercial gallery is without obligation: visitors are welcome to browse, ask questions about artists and works, and return on subsequent visits before deciding. Galleries can arrange shipping for purchased works, including international shipping with appropriate documentation – relevant for visitors who wish to take New Zealand art home. Purchasing directly from Parnell galleries supports New Zealand artists directly: commercial gallery sales are a primary income source for most NZ artists, and buying in Parnell puts money into the NZ creative economy without an intermediary.
FAQ - Frequently Asked Questions
What art galleries are in Parnell Auckland?
Parnell has seven commercial galleries in Parnell Road and one in Faraday Street: Artis Gallery (est. 1988, NZ contemporary fine art), Jonathan Grant Galleries (established NZ painters, secondary market), Black Door Gallery (emerging and experimental NZ art), Parnell Gallery (established in 1976 with NZ contemporary painters), International Art Centre (gallery and auction house), Alvin Pankhurst Gallery (Alvin Pankhurst works) and Kiwa Art (authentic Maori and Pacific Art. All are within a five-minute walk of each other on Parnell Road.
Foenander Galleries (NZ and Pacific art including Maori and Pacific artists), is situated in Faraday Street, a 20 minute walk away.
Is Parnell a good place to buy NZ art?
Yes – Parnell is the best single location in New Zealand to buy original New Zealand art. Seven commercial galleries within a five-minute walk collectively represent hundreds of NZ artists across all price ranges, from accessible prints to significant original works. All galleries are free to browse with no sales obligation, and most can arrange international shipping.
Are Parnell galleries free to enter?
Yes. All six commercial galleries in Parnell are free to enter with no booking required. Visitors are welcome to browse without any obligation to buy. Gallery hours are typically Tuesday to Saturday, 10am to 5pm, though individual galleries vary – checking parnell.net.nz before visiting is recommended.
What exhibitions are on in Parnell right now?
Current exhibitions across Parnell’s galleries are listed at https://www.parnell.net.nz/news-events/ Individual gallery exhibition programmes are updated regularly. Artis Gallery holds eight to ten solo exhibitions per year; other galleries maintain similarly active programmes. The parnell.net.nz gallery hub pages are the most current source for exhibition information.
How many galleries are in Parnell?
Parnell has seven commercial galleries in Parnell Road and one in Faraday Street. Artis Gallery, Jonathan Grant Galleries, Black Door Gallery, Parnell Gallery, International Art Centre Alvin Pankhurst Gallery and Kiwa Art are all within a five-minute walk of each other on Parnell Road. This concentration is the densest gallery district walkable in New Zealand.
Foenander Galleries is situated in Faraday Street, a 20 minute walk away.
What is the best gallery in Auckland?
The best gallery depends on what you are looking for – Parnell Road’s cluster offers seven distinct exhibition options within a single visit.
Parnell Gallery was established in 1976. Artis Gallery (est. 1988) is one of the most regarded in New Zealand, representing approximately 40 NZ artists with eight to ten solo exhibitions per year. Jonathan Grant Galleries is highly regarded for its established NZ painter programme and secondary market expertise.
Can I buy New Zealand paintings in Parnell?
Yes. Original New Zealand paintings are available across all price ranges at Parnell’s commercial galleries. Artis Gallery, Jonathan Grant Galleries, Parnell Gallery, and Foenander Galleries all maintain strong painting programmes. Price ranges begin at a few hundred dollars for smaller works and extend to tens of thousands for significant original works by established NZ artists. All galleries welcome browsers and can arrange shipping for purchased works.
