The Central Art Gallery

The Central Art Gallery The Central offers a beautiful and welcoming space to purchase and browse contemporary NZ art. The Central connects artists and the community.

Located in the old Library in the Arts Centre, The Central offers a beautiful and welcoming space that brings people and art together. Our philosophy is to create an uplifting gallery experience, demystifying the journey, and elevating the art. We show established contemporary New Zealand artists with a desirable body of work, whilst always keeping our experienced eye on aspiring artists of the fu

ture. We value enjoyment through learning and will educate, challenge and seek to bring art into everyday conversations. In its renowned venue, The Central hosts exhibition openings, private events, and arts groups. We welcome everyone to view our everchanging artist exhibitions as well the extensive stock room. Stay a while, perhaps taking a seat in our reading area, relax and enjoy the experience of great art.

It’s the last day to view Two-Way Street today!Fabulous to see so many of you in the gallery this morning, and lovely kō...
20/06/2026

It’s the last day to view Two-Way Street today!

Fabulous to see so many of you in the gallery this morning, and lovely kōrero. Apologies for the afternoon post - technology seems to know exactly when to throw a wobbly! We may still see a few of you yet! Open until 4pm but call if you’re running late, we can accommodate!

Featured artwork:
1. Philip Trusttum, ‘Baba Yaga’s Hut,’ 2003
2. Philip Trusttum, ‘LINEOUT TIME, Blues - Canterbury,’ 06/10/2010
3. Philip Trusttum, From ‘Tennis Series,’ 11/1999 (Diptych)
4. Morks, ‘Trusttum v Morks: Game On,’ 2026
5. Morks, ‘Soothing Moods,’ 2026
6. Morks, ‘Eye Tetris,’ 2026
7. Luca McDonnell, ‘Levitation,’ 2026
8. Luca McDonnell, ‘Negtiation,’ 2026
9. Philip Trusttum, From the ‘Face Series,’ c2021

For all enquiries please email [email protected] or message us on social media.

We will be closed this coming week for installation of our next exhibition, reopening 5:30pm on Thursday 25th June.

Te Matatiki Toi Ora The Arts Centre Christchurch Mᴏᴿᴋs ᴀᴿᴛɪsᴛ lucamcdonnell Philip Trusttum

Luca McDonnell’s ‘Levitation’ is an impressive sculptural work standing just under 2.4 metres high.Influenced and inspir...
18/06/2026

Luca McDonnell’s ‘Levitation’ is an impressive sculptural work standing just under 2.4 metres high.

Influenced and inspired by human relationships, Luca employs magnets in his exhibited works to represent the invisible forces of human interaction and effect, stating ‘I’m interested in humans and human behaviour. We all live in our own little worlds, with our own interpretations of the world…we watch each other and listen to each other. We share ideas and we influence each other.’

Luca’s ‘Levitation’ represents his mentor/mentee relationship with the late Philip Trusttum and the effect Philip has had on him and his practice. Usually working in the diminutive, Luca has embraced bigger scales in tribute to Philip. Just out of sight, at the top of Levitation’s central slender aluminium column is the largest steady state magnet you can buy on Aotearoa shores, with another magnet nestled inside the porcelain sphere above. The magnets are repelling each other, North-to-North, creating the void between column and sphere. Gliding on little wheels, the locating rods allow the porcelain sphere to move up and down when the magnetic field is affected by external factors, such as temperature or vibration, creating an unworldly floating effect.

Thanks to everyone who attended Luca’s artist talk on Saturday, lovely to see familiar faces and some new ones, too!

Luca McDonnell
‘Levitation,’ 2026
Aluminium, porcelain, magnets
2390 x 430mm (h x dia)
$2,750

For all enquiries please email [email protected] or message us on social media.

We’re in the last two days of ‘Two-Way Street’ - open today and Saturday, 10am-4pm. Don’t miss it!

Luca McDonnell Luca McDonnell Te Matatiki Toi Ora The Arts Centre Christchurch

We’re thrilled to be featured in the June issue of 03 Magazine!It’s fantastic to have our gallery, the artists we repres...
17/06/2026

We’re thrilled to be featured in the June issue of 03 Magazine!

It’s fantastic to have our gallery, the artists we represent, and our current exhibition highlighted in The South Island Lifestyle Magazine; a publication celebrating creativity, culture, and contemporary art. We’re grateful for the opportunity to share our story, our vision, and the incredible work that fills our space every day.

A huge thank you to Josie and Charlotte and the team at 03 Magazine for this feature, and to our artists, collectors, and community whose support makes everything we do possible.

Pick up your free copy from the gallery or check out the feature online—link is in our bio—our feature begins on page 30, ‘Art of the City’.

Our current exhibition, Two-Way Street, featuring works by the late Philip Trusttum, and his mentees Luca McDonnell and Morks, is in its last week! Come and catch it before it’s gone! Today/Fri/Sat 10am-4pm.

For all enquiries please email [email protected] or message us on social media.

Te Matatiki Toi Ora The Arts Centre Christchurch

‘Don’t Miss the Boat (JMS)’ is a striking demonstration of Morks’ dynamic painterly style.Morks is a multi-disciplinary ...
12/06/2026

‘Don’t Miss the Boat (JMS)’ is a striking demonstration of Morks’ dynamic painterly style.

Morks is a multi-disciplinary artist, taking inspiration from Street Art and his experience as both a graffiti artist in his youth and a tattoo artist for 25 years. ‘Don’t Miss the Boat’ uses a number of mediums; including spray paint, paint pen, oil stick, and Resene house paint. The explosion of colours and shapes is true to Morks’ style, working quickly from his imagination and without concept drawings. Morks said himself “I’ve probably got the fastest mind I know; I’m never short of an idea.” ‘Don’t Miss the Boat (JMS)’ gets its title from Morks’ father, a retired Irish navy man, who saw something in the painting Morks hadn’t intended, proving that we all bring our own life experiences to artwork and see different things.

Thanks to everyone who attended Morks’ artist talk on Friday afternoon; from U3A Port Hills members to young street artists, it was wonderful to see so much support for Morks!

Morks, ‘Don't Miss the Boat (JMS),’ 2026
Mixed media on canvas
1810 x 1700mm
$8,500

For all enquiries please email [email protected] or message us on social media.

‘Two-Way Street’ is open until Saturday 20th June.

The Central is open Tue-Sat, 10am-4pm.

.artist

Join artist Luca McDonnell at 11:30am on Saturday 13th June.Luca is an Honours student at Ilam School of Fine Arts Cante...
05/06/2026

Join artist Luca McDonnell at 11:30am on Saturday 13th June.

Luca is an Honours student at Ilam School of Fine Arts Canterbury University, majoring in Sculpture. ‘Two-Way Street’ features two of Luca’s monumental sculptures. Luca was mentored by the late figurative expressionist painter, Philip Trusttum, and creates works anchored in his expression of respect and admiration for Philip.

Artist Talks are free to attend, all welcome!

For all enquiries please email [email protected] or message us on social media.

‘Two-Way Street’ is open until Saturday 20th June.

The Central is open Tue-Sat, 10am-4pm.

Join artist Morks at 1:30pm on Friday 12th June.Morks is a multidisciplinary artist inspired by both the natural world a...
05/06/2026

Join artist Morks at 1:30pm on Friday 12th June.

Morks is a multidisciplinary artist inspired by both the natural world around him and his connections with his friends and whānau. Morks has over 25 years of creative experience; beginning as a graffiti artist in his youth followed by a successful career in the tattoo industry. He brings a love and skill for Street Art to his practice. Morks takes influence from his late mentor, figurative expressionist, Philip Trusttum.

Artist Talks are free to attend, all welcome!

For all enquiries please email [email protected] or message us on social media.

‘Two-Way Street’ is open until Saturday 20th June.

The Central is open Tue-Sat, 10am-4pm.

.artist

'Hallenst Jersey' is one of my favourite paintings from a series of Philip Trusttum’s clothing and personal effects that...
04/06/2026

'Hallenst Jersey' is one of my favourite paintings from a series of Philip Trusttum’s clothing and personal effects that he was working on when he passed.

'Hallenst Jersey' depicts one of Philip’s favourite rib-knit jumpers and includes some classic Trusttum elements—a perspective from his own visual vantage point, looking down on his own hands and jersey splayed out; abstract use of colour, the blue of his hands suggests maybe they were cold when he was painting…or maybe not abstract at all and he had a pair of blue gloves; big blocks of colour laid down through the background with a broad palette knife, clean sharp edges delineating areas of the canvas; seemingly accidental splashes of contrasting colour but, when you look closely, the same colour is strategically placed throughout the work; and patterned linework through the negative spaces of the painting, creating a dynamic flow and energy between his hands and jersey.

Philip Trusttum, ‘Hallenst Jersey,’ 2026
Acrylic on canvas
1410 x 1850mm
$18,000

For all enquiries please email [email protected] or message us on social media.

‘Two-Way Street’ is open until Saturday 20th June.

The Central is open Tue-Sat, 10am-4pm.

.trusttum

Our current exhibition, Two-Way Street, honours the relationship between mentor and mentee; between the late and accompl...
28/05/2026

Our current exhibition, Two-Way Street, honours the relationship between mentor and mentee; between the late and accomplished painter, Philip Trusttum, and his two mentees, Morks (aka Sean Simpson) and Luca McDonnell. Where Philip gave through his experience as a full-time artist for over six decades, both Morks and Luca gave back through their willingness to learn, their respect, energy and enthusiasm. Both were working with Philip right up until he passed in March 2026. The exhibition is, in true Trusttum-style, a celebration of life and is full to the brim with vim and vigour!

Images are of the ‘Two-Way Street’ exhibition installation, featuring paintings by Philip Trusttum and Morks, and sculptures by Luca McDonnell. Thank you to Maxine Brannigan for the photos captured on our opening night.

‘Two-Way Street’ is open until Saturday 20th June.

The Central is open Tue-Sat, 10am-4pm.

For all enquiries please email [email protected] or message us on social media.

Heading to the Crusaders vs Blues tomorrow night? Pop in to The Central on your way!Philip Trusttum's 'LINEOUT TIME, Blu...
07/05/2026

Heading to the Crusaders vs Blues tomorrow night? Pop in to The Central on your way!

Philip Trusttum's 'LINEOUT TIME, Blues - Canterbury,' 2010 is on display at The Central now in our 'Two-Way Street' exhibition.

Who are you rooting for?
❤️ 💙

We are open Tue-Sat, 10am-4pm.

Featured artwork:
Philip Trusttum
'LINEOUT TIME, Blues - Canterbury,' 2010

For all enquiries please email [email protected] or message us on social media.

# #

Two-Way Street opening this Thursday!Philip Trusttum, Morks, and Luca McDonnell exhibiting together for the first time; ...
05/05/2026

Two-Way Street opening this Thursday!

Philip Trusttum, Morks, and Luca McDonnell exhibiting together for the first time; celebrating the relationship between mentor and mentee.

Exhibition opening Thursday 7th May at 5:30pm. All welcome!

For all enquiries please email [email protected] or message us on social media.

Address

The Library Building, The Arts Centre, 2 Worcester Boulevard
Christchurch
8011

Opening Hours

Tuesday 10am - 4pm
Wednesday 10am - 4pm
Thursday 10am - 4pm
Friday 10am - 6pm
Saturday 10am - 4pm

Telephone

+6433663318

Website

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