Gallery Guide - Nelson City Centre

The Nelson Tasman region in New Zealand has a rich history of art and culture, with a focus on both Māori and European heritage. The region is named after the Dutch explorer, Abel Tasman, and the English, Lord Horatio Nelson, Admiral of the Fleet of the successful Battle of Trafalgar off the coast of England.

The first formal European settlement in the region took place in the early 1840s, with over 300 working artists currently residing in the area, making it one of the largest artist communities in the country.

Known for its vibrant artistic culture, the Nelson Tasman region has a variety of artists, including painters, sculptors, ceramic artists, potters, glass blowers, jewellers, writers, and creators. These artists draw inspiration from the stunning natural environment and amazing natural light, creating art and crafts with a unique and personal signature.

The region is home to some of the oldest cultural institutions in New Zealand, such as the Suter Art Gallery, Theatre Royal, and the Nelson Centre of Musical Arts, which all showcase and celebrate the artistic culture through performances, art displays, and music.

Nelson is home to New Zealand’s best known landscape photographer, Craig Potton, who is renowned for his conservation efforts and work focusing on the relationship between artistic beauty and wilderness in the natural world. Some other artists from the Nelson Tasman region include Hoglund Art Glass, known for their strong, simple lines of classic Scandinavian glassware with a Pacific feel and vibrant colours.

The region hosts several arts events throughout the year, including the Arts Festival in the spring, the Nelson Buskers Festival in the summer, the Fringe Festival in the autumn, and the bi-annual Te Ramaroa Light Nelson event every other winter.

These events attract visitors from around the world, providing a unique and diverse artistic experience, and of course, the Nelson Tasman region is also home to one of the largest number of working artists in the country, with art trails, studios, and galleries spread across the region.

Explore a variety of mediums, from painting to sculpture and photography and discover local artists and their unique works showcased in galleries across the Nelson City Centre.