WellingtonSee & Do
The exterior of the City Gallery with 5-metre tall hand statue ‘Quasi’ standing atop.

City Gallery Wellington Te Whare Toi

  • Location

    101 Wakefield Street, Te Ngākau Civic Square, Wellington

  • Website

    City Gallery

Wellington’s contemporary art gallery is a dynamic cultural presence. You’ll find exhibitions that delight and challenge.

Situated in the heart of Te Ngākau Civic Square, City Gallery Wellington is the hub of contemporary art in the capital of New Zealand.

With a dynamic programme of exhibitions and events, the capital’s gallery has an international reputation for showcasing artists at the height of their game from Aotearoa and beyond.

Since 1980, City Gallery Wellington has been challenging and delighting contemporary art lovers. Consisting of seven galleries, it has a regularly changing suite of exhibitions throughout the year. As the country’s only kunsthalle gallery, it doesn’t maintain its own art collection. Instead, it devotes its resources to mounting special exhibitions, borrowing artworks from around the country and internationally. This means its exhibitions are often large and unique in scale. It has hosted many international artists’ exhibitions and introduced New Zealand audiences to diverse contemporary art voices.

2 people admiring Hilma af Klint The Secret Paintings, City Gallery Wellington, 2021.

Hilma af Klint ‘The Secret Paintings’, City Gallery Wellington, 2021.

There are several on-site extras to make your visit even better including the Gallery Shop. Peruse a selection of art and design books, activities, and toys for creative kids, New Zealand–made homewares and jewellery, and plenty more. Tucked into the sunny corner of City Gallery Wellington, the familiar scent of coffee and good food will draw you to Nikau Café. Grab a latte and a treat, and settle down to consider your new contemporary art knowledge.

City Gallery Wellington runs regular free or by-donation events, along with showcasing thought-provoking art. Visit after regular hours with Open Late to see a changing programme of art, music, film, and talks served with fine refreshments.

Entry is usually free to this incredible gallery. City Gallery Wellington provides ground-breaking exhibitions and events that ensure the best of contemporary art is accessible to all. There’s something here for everyone.

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