The New Zealand Portrait Gallery Te Pūkenga Whakaata is an art gallery located in Wellington, New Zealand, in the Waterfront Shed 11 building.

New Zealand Portrait Gallery
Te Pūkenga Whakaata

New Zealand Portrait Gallery at Shed 11
Location in Wellington, New Zealand
Established	1990
Location	Shed 11, Queen's Wharf, Wellington Waterfront
Coordinates	41.283475°S 174.778240°E / -41.283475; 174.778240
Website	Official website

History

The gallery was registered as a charitable trust in 1990.[1] In 2005 the board hired its first paid director, Avenal McKinnon, who held the position until her resignation in 2014.[2] During this time the permanent collection grew from six works to more than 200. In 2014, Gaelen Macdonald was appointed as McKinnon's successor.[3] In 2017, Jaenine Parkinson took over the role of director.[4]

Location

The New Zealand Portrait Gallery's permanent home and exhibition space is in Shed 11, a heritage listed building located on Wellington's Queens Wharf.[5] Shed 11 was built in 1904–5 and designed by William Ferguson, chief engineer of the Wellington Harbour Board.[6] In 1985, Shed 11 was transformed into a gallery space and in 2010 the New Zealand Portrait Gallery secured a long term lease on the building.

Collection

The New Zealand Portrait Gallery holds a collection of portraits featuring works by, and of, New Zealanders. In the collection are portraits of many influential and well-known identities including Sir Edmund Hillary, Dame Kiri Te Kanawa, Sir Peter Blake, and Janet Frame.

In 2014, a portrait of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II was commissioned for the gallery, and was painted by New Zealand artist Nick Cuthell in a live sitting. The portrait was unveiled by His Royal Highness Prince William, Duke of Cambridge, in a ceremony at Government House, and was subsequently hung at the gallery's home in Shed 11.[7]

Awards

The New Zealand Portrait Gallery hosts two biennial awards: the Adam Portraiture Award and the Kiingi Tuheitia Portraiture Award.

References