City as a gallery: A guide to Wellington’s street art

A movable feast for the eyes 

Kick off your arty tour on the waterfront. You’ll find a portrait of Dame Temuranga Batley-Jackson from world-renowned artist Graeme Hoete (Mr G). Displayed on the side of Shed 1, the work commemorates a pillar of public service who has become a Wellington icon. It’s found beside the East by West Ferry, so hop on a trip and see Dame Jackson in all her glory from the water. 

Continue the transport theme with a trip on the Wellington Cable Car. Start your journey at the Lambton terminal and you’ll find the red cars aren’t the only splash of colour. Creative whizz Gina Kiel has added her magical touch with a rainbow mural. The kaleidoscope of colour sees you off as you’re whisked away up the hill.

A modernist master  

Likely taking the crown for Wellington’s largest mural is Willis Street’s Rita Angus portrait. The enormous mural took artist Elliot O’Donnell (Askew One) a week and a half to complete. Rita Angus is one of New Zealand’s most important painters and the mural is based on a self-portrait she completed in 1937. Fittingly, the mural overlooks the spot that used to house her old coffee haunt, Suzy’s Coffee Lounge. While Suzy’s is no longer there, you can grab a drink from Amador on Willis Street and take in the modernist master from the balcony. 

To the theatre 

If you walk along Ghuznee Street, you’ll likely pass a flock of unusually large birds. Kiran Parbhu’s Bird of the Year mural celebrates the country’s beautiful manu and the annual competition that puts them head to head. Look closely and you might spot comedian John Oliver giving the pūteketeke/crested grebe a little nudge onto the winner’s podium.  

Across the road, you’ll spot the equally striking and brilliant Ziggy Stardust. This mural by local artist Xoë Hall has turned David Bowie into a larger-than-life presence in the city. Grab a coffee from Customs for the perfect view of Bowie.  

From modern saint to old. St James Theatre on Courtenay Place features a mesmerising mural by artists Keri Mei Zagrobelna and Tina Rae Carter. Stand in the alleyway and look up at the collision of earth and sky, taniwha and cherub. This liquid, flowing piece draws you in and pulls you upwards. 

With countless other works decorating the city, your eyes will be busy. The Wellington City Council has a full list of artworks: 

View the map of Wellington’s street art

The Art of Banksy 

The elusive Banksy is perhaps the world’s most renowned street artist and yet almost nothing is known about him. His work, which first appeared on the streets of Bristol has since become a worldwide phenomenon. Tākina Wellington Convention & Exhibition Centre showcases over 150 original and authenticated Banksy pieces from across his prolific career. 

See iconic works like ‘Girl With Balloon’ in four colour variations. Delve into the origins of ‘Flower Thrower’, a symbolic piece originally made in 1997. The exhibition includes countless insights into the man behind the mystery, like the special video interview with his girlfriend for whom he originally created ‘Flower Thrower’.   

To mark the exhibition, local artist Sean Duffell has painted a container on the waterfront with Banksy-inspired stencils. The QT Hotel is also celebrating the artist with a street art-themed room. Visit the exhibition until 20 January.