Pardington was selected by the Christchurch Art Gallery Te Puna o Waiwhetū, who were named as The Arts Council of New Zealand Toi Aotearoa’s Biennale delivery partner. 

Pardington says being asked to exhibit in Aotearoa New Zealand’s National Pavillion is an unexpected and extraordinary moment in her career. 

“I am deeply honoured and humbled by this incredible opportunity to represent Aotearoa at the Venice Biennale. I am profoundly grateful that my work is appreciated like this and for all the people furiously paddling the waka who have brought me to this point. Ehara taku toa i te toa takitahi, engari he toa takitini,” she says.

Further details about the project to be announced soon. 

Associate Professor Leonard Bell from the University of Auckland’s art history department will give a talk on Marti Friedlander to round off the exhibition ‘Starting Point of a Complicated Story’. Bell is an expert on Friedlander’s photography and the author of several key publications about her practice. Join us at Starkwhite Queenstown, 1 Earl Street, 5pm on Saturday 14 September.

Please join us 3.00 – 5.00pm Saturday 3 August at Starkwhite Auckland as Leonard Bell discusses Marti Friedlander alongside our current show, Marti Friedlander ‘Starting Point of a Complicated Story.’ 
Leonard Bell will share his insights and personal recollections, adding richly to the visual story of Friedlander’s iconic images.

We are delighted to be supporting Diocesan School for Girls upcoming Night of Art fundraiser, 6.30pm Friday 9 August, featuring the work of over 100 artists. Gallery artists Fiona Pardington, Jonny Niesche, Gordon Walters, Marti Friedlander and Seung Yul Oh will be contributing key works, in many cases from sold-out editions and wait listed works that will only be available through Night of Art.